Table 1.
Self-reported misconceptions on COVID-19 among the dental interns, auxiliaries, and specialists (N = 500).
| Knowledge items | Interns N = 162 | Auxiliaries N = 202 | Specialists N = 136 | p-value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Is sneezing a symptom | ||||
| Yes | 146 (90.1) | 165 (81.7) | 116 (85.3) | 0.1 |
| Noa | 16 (9.9) | 37 (18.3) | 20 (14.7) | |
| Immediate response for suspected case | ||||
| Call emergency | 74 (45.7) | 58 (28.7) | 44 (32.4) | <0.001 |
| Refer him to a doctor | 20 (12.3) | 15 (12.4) | 3 (2.2) | |
| Ask travel historya | 68 (42) | 114 (56.4) | 87 (64) | |
| Do not know | 0 | 5 (2.5) | 2 (1.5) | |
| Emergency number | ||||
| 937a | 152 (93.8) | 146 (72.3) | 128 (94.1) | <0.001 |
| 999 | 3 (1.9) | 25 (12.4) | 3 (2.2) | |
| 811 | 0 | 2 (1.0) | 0 | |
| Do not know | 7 (4.3) | 29 (14.4) | 5 (3.7) | |
| Safe distance | ||||
| Three feeta | 61 (37.7) | 131 (64.9) | 77 (56.6) | <0.001 |
| Six feet | 40 (24.7) | 27 (13.4) | 31 (22.8) | |
| Five feet | 29 (17.9) | 17 (8.4) | 12 (8.8) | |
| Do not know | 32 (19.8) | 27 (13.4) | 16 (11.8) | |
| Relatively low risk group | ||||
| 0–19 yearsa | 91 (56.2) | 110 (54.5) | 65 (47.8) | 0.1 |
| 20–29 years | 31 (19.1) | 41 (20.3) | 40 (29.4) | |
| 30 year and older | 6 (3.7) | 15 (7.4) | 13 (9.6) | |
| Do not know | 34 (21) | 36 (17.8) | 18 (13.2) | |
| What is COVID-19? | ||||
| Immunity Disorder | 49 (30.2) | 39 (19.3) | 20 (14.7) | 0.07 |
| SARS infection | 8 (4.9) | 26 (12.9) | 19 (14) | |
| Acquired Zoonotic | 36 (22.2) | 76 (37.6) | 54 (39.7) | |
| Pulmonary diseasea | 69 (42.6) | 61 (30.2) | 43 (31.6) | |
| High risk of infection transmits | ||||
| Dentists | 78 (48.1) | 34 (16.8) | 39 (28.7) | <0.001 |
| Nurses | 6 (3.7) | 16 (7.9) | 8 (5.9) | |
| Patients | 1 (0.6) | 5 (2.5) | 8 (5.9) | |
| Alla | 77 (47.5) | 147 (72.8) | 81 (59.6) | |
| Air borne | ||||
| Yesa | 81 (50) | 91 (45) | 78 (57.4) | <0.001 |
| No | 71 (43.8) | 95 (47) | 52 (38.2) | |
| I do not know | 10 (6.2) | 16 (7.9) | 6 (4.4) | |
| High proportion of morbidity | ||||
| Old peoplea | 150 (92.6) | 183 (90.6) | 130 (95.6) | 0.03 |
| Young children | 3 (1.9) | 3 (1.5) | 6 (4.4) | |
| I do not know | 9 (5.6) | 16 (7.9) | 0 | |
| Latency period | ||||
| Immediately | 0 | 2 (1) | 0 | 0.01 |
| 2–14 daysa | 100 (61.7) | 150 (74.3) | 100 (73.5) | |
| 14–28 days | 61 (37.7) | 47 (23.3) | 31 (22.8) | |
| I do not know | 1 (0.6) | 3 (1.5) | 5 (3.7) | |
| First symptoms | ||||
| Fever | 6 (3.7) | 9 (4.5) | 5 (3.7) | 0.01 |
| Difficulty in breathing | 9 (5.6) | 11 (5.4) | 14 (10.3) | |
| Botha | 144 (88.9) | 180 (89.1) | 117 (86) | |
| Do not know | 3 (1.9) | 2 (1.0) | 0 | |
| Common symptoms of flu and COVID-19 | ||||
| Sneezing and fever | 64 (39.5) | 93 (46) | 68 (50) | 0.5 |
| Coughing and fevera | 11 (6.8) | 23 (11.4) | 16 (11.8) | |
| Both right | 44 (27.2) | 42 (20.8) | 37 (27.2) | |
| Both wrong | 16 (9.9) | 22 (10.9) | 10 (7.4) | |
| Do not know | 27 (16.6) | 20 (9.9) | 5 (3.7) | |
| Antibiotics for treatment | ||||
| Yes | 13 (8) | 18 (8.9) | 10 (7.4) | 0.02 |
| Noa | 106 (65.4) | 141 (69.8) | 103 (75.7) | |
| Do not know | 43 (26.5) | 41 (20.3) | 20 (14.7) | |
| Recommended personal prevention | ||||
| Wear n95 mask | 22 (13.6) | 44 (21.8) | 37 (27.2) | 0.1 |
| Surgical mask | 4 (2.5) | 53 (26.2) | 68 (47.8) | |
| Washing handsa | 136 (84) | 103 (51) | 34 (25) | |
| Other recommended precaution | ||||
| Avoid Undercooked food | 3 (1.9) | 2 (1.0) | 0 | <0.001 |
| Inhale steam | 96 (59.3) | 151 (74.8) | 100 (73.5) | |
| Avoid large crowdsa | 41 (25.3) | 31 (15.3) | 23 (16.9) | |
| Do not touch face with hands | 19 (11.7) | 2 (1) | 2 (1.5) | |
| Do not know | 3 (1.9) | 14 (6.9) | 11 (8.1) | |
| Availability of vaccine for COVID-19 | ||||
| Yes | 5 (3.1) | 11 (5.4) | 13 (9.6) | <0.001 |
| Noa | 130 (80.2) | 160 (79.2) | 110 (80.9) | |
| Do not know | 27 (16.7) | 29 (14.4) | 13 (9.6) | |
| Hot air prevents COVID-19 | ||||
| Yes | 8 (4.9) | 9 (4.5) | 4 (2.9) | 0.1 |
| Noa | 139 (85.8) | 179 (88.6) | 130 (95.6) | |
| Do not know | 15 (9.3) | 14 (6.9) | 2 (1.5) | |
Chi-square test.
Bold values are for the significant p-values.
a
Correct responses.