ABSTRACT
Dental education around the world were being affected by the pandemic COVID-19. Patients could not come to received treatment and students could not performed dental clinical practical due to lockdown implementation. To overcome this, an online orthodontic screening for examination and diagnosis was developed to help dental students to practice and perform assessment on patients. The objective of this study was to assess the possibility of using online orthodontics screening as an alternative way to physical classes and orthodontic clinics. This cross-sectional study was conducted on clinical years dental students. A total of seventy subjects participated in this study. All subjects were required to assess orthodontic patient extra-oral and intra-oral attributes base on the online orthodontic screening. The result shows that all subjects could identify correctly extra-oral features such as assessment of the skeletal pattern and soft tissue. While mixed result was noted on intra-oral characteristics such as teeth condition, teeth in occlusion and lower upper arches. As a conclusion, the implementation of orthodontic screening thru online method can be utilized as a feasible alternative in comparison to the traditional clinical setting. © 2022,Journal of International Dental and Medical Research. All Rights Reserved.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The major objectives of the study were to assess the knowledge, attitude & practice (KAP) towards community preparedness and response on prevention of COVID-19 among the community. METHOD: A sample survey was conducted to collect data from people admitted in a district level tertiary hospital for treatment of various health complications during COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 300 randomly selected patients and their attendants were interviewed in the hospital setting. RESULTS: The mean knowledge score was 18.73 out of 24 and the main sources of information were TV (86.5%), radio (13%), newspaper (13%), social media (13.5%), friends/relatives (14%), formal healthcare providers (6%) and religious leaders (3%). Knowledge was significantly poor among aged people, women, less educated and those on low incomes. The Majority of participants (79%) suggested wearing facemasks as effective tools to prevent COVID-19 from spreading, 56% mentioned maintaining of physical or social distance as crucial to prevent the infection. We found strong relationship between monthly total family expenses and wearing of facemasks by gender to prevent the COVID-19 (x2= 18.405;Cramer's V= .17, df = 8;sig;P= < .018). Similarly maintaining physical/social distance to prevent COVID-19 is also related to respondents' economic strata (x2= 43.741;Cramer's V= .14, df = 20;Sig;P= < .002). CONCLUSIONS: An awareness program on COVID-19 is very important to prevent the spread of the virus. Effective communication intervention with increasing treatment facilities is essential for prevention and control of COVID-19. Government and development agencies should prioritize the COVID-19 response program with regular health care services.