Knowledge, attitudes, behavior, and expectation of Thai patients toward dental treatment during covid-19 pandemic: an online survey

Abstract

Aerosol-generating procedures with contaminated saliva may pose a risk of disease transmission during the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 preventive measures in dental clinics have evolved in response to the pandemic situation. This research investigated the effect of this pandemic on Thai patients' knowledge, attitudes, and behavior toward dental treatment. The online survey was distributed in June 2022. There were 978 participants in the study. The results showed that most participants had accurate knowledge about the COVID-19 transmission route in dentistry. The mean and median level of concern in the following issues were: contracting COVID-19 in daily life (3.06 and 3.03), contracting COVID-19 from a dental clinic (3.23 and 3.03), and oral health problems while dental clinics were disrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic (3.4 and 3.03). Because they had no symptoms, were afraid of COVID-19, and dental clinics were closed, 61.1 percent of participants did not receive any dental treatment during the pandemic. Therefore, dental organizations should encourage patients to return for dental visits, promote oral health care behaviors, and strictly follow the COVID-19 preventive measures in dental clinics.