Modeling the Behavioral Response of Dentists to COVID-19 and Assessing the Perceived Impacts of Pandemic on Operative Dentistry Practices in Pakistan.

COVID-19 pandemic has affected dentistry in unprecedented ways. This study investigates the perceived effects of the pandemic on operative dentistry procedures and dentistry profession in Pakistan and the factors that determine the behavioral changes among dentists to adapt to the "new normal." A Capability Opportunity Motivation-Behavioral model (COM-B) was utilized to investigate the factors that determine the behavior of dentists in Punjab, Pakistan to adhere to COVID-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs). Using social media, an online questionnaire was sent to operative dentistry professionals in Pakistan, and 312 responses were received. 81.4% of the respondents believed that the COVID-19 pandemic has severely affected the level of care provided to the patients, 66% were extremely worried about the risk of contagion during clinical practices, and more than 75% of the respondents opined that the pandemic has led to an increased emphasis on disinfection and oral hygiene instructions. The multiple regression model suggests that the behavior of Pakistani dentists to adhere to the COVID-19 SOPs is significantly affected by their Capabilities (ß = 0.358) and Opportunities (ß = 0.494). The study concluded that dentists in Punjab, Pakistan are concerned about the risk of contagion and report a serious concern about consequences such as financial loss and inappropriate care of patients. The current study results can feed the policymaking in Pakistan and other developing countries. Facilities and training to improve dentists' opportunities and capabilities can improve their ability to cope with the COVID-19 challenges.

Public perception towards medical waste generated in the environment during the COVID-19 pandemic in Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia.

Airborne droplets and contaminated surfaces are the main routes for the epidemic virus outbreak that causes the novel coronavirus. To reduce virus spread, people wear face masks and gloves daily, which massively increases the amount of waste generated in the environment. Also, the inappropriate disposal of used masks and gloves in communities may boost the spread of the novel coronavirus. However, no studies have been conducted to evaluate a public perception regarding the management of generated masks and gloves during the global health threat. Therefore, this paper proposes a study of public awareness, attitudes, and practices towards gloves and masks generated during the novel coronavirus pandemic in Saudi Arabia. The study showed that most of the participants (74%) have adequate awareness regarding the proper way to dispose of used masks and gloves, with 76% showing positive attitudes toward waste management. Gender shows a significant correlation with the regulations of medical waste collection and disposal (r = 0.169, p = 0.0001), and the consideration of the effective disposal of COVID-19 waste management as a collective responsibility of the community (r = 0.158, p = 0.0001). Also, the study shows that the majority of participants were aware on the availability of regulations for the collection and disposal of biomedical waste. Moreover, it demonstrates that public awareness regarding the attitude and measures taken by regional municipalities to reduce the spread of coronavirus has a significant positive correlation (r = 0.279, p = 0.0001). The study further recognized that the effective management of contagious wastes significantly protects the public against the improper practices of wastes disposal generated during the novel coronavirus pandemic.