Pre-dental treatment screening in Indonesia during the COVID-19 pandemic: a questionnaire survey of dental practitioners.

BACKGROUND: Dental practitioners have a high risk of contracting COVID-19 during the treatment of patients because of exposure to airborne droplets. However, the application of pre-procedure treatment screening in dental practices in Indonesia varied during the pandemic. The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of updated pre-procedure dental treatment protocols and procedures among dental practitioners in Indonesia. METHODS: This study consisted of dentists registered as members of the Indonesian Dental Association who attended the Indonesian Dental Association webinar series in 2021. All the participants completed a questionnaire survey. The participants, who were from various regions in Indonesia, were granted password-protected access to a URL hosting the questionnaire. The questionnaire collected demographic information and contained questions on adherence to updated protocols and patient screening procedures, to which the respondents answered "Yes" or "No". For the analysis, the participants were divided into three groups based on the type of facility where they were employed: public (government) hospitals, private hospitals, or university hospitals (dental schools). A chi-square test was used to investigate the association between professional background and the implementation of updated protocols, including pre-procedure dental treatment screening. A value of P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The age range of the participants was 20 - 60 years. The participants worked in facilities in 32 provinces in Indonesia. In total, there were 5,323 participants (males: n = 829; females: n = 4,494). In terms of professional backgrounds, 2,171, 2,867, and 285 participants were employed in government hospitals, private hospitals, and dental faculties, respectively. Among 5,232 participants who implemented updated COVID-19 prevention protocols, 5,053 (98%) participants performed pre-surgery procedures Among 151 participants who did not implement updated COVID-19 prevention protocols, 133 (88%) individuals carried out pre-rinse procedures. CONCLUSIONS: Almost all the dental practitioners employed in government hospitals, private hospitals, and dental faculties in Indonesia performed pre-surgery patient screening procedures. There was an agreement between the dental professionals in all three settings on the need for COVID-19 pre-treatment screening procedures in dental practices during the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 Vaccines in Indonesia: Knowledge, Attitudes, and Acceptance Among Dental Professionals.

Background: At the time of writing, the number of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in Indonesia has exceeded 2 million. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused severe disruptions in and unprecedented challenges to healthcare systems, including the one in Indonesia. Healthcare professionals, especially dentists, have an increased risk of contracting the virus. Many dental professionals in Indonesia have been exposed to the virus through close contact with aerosols and droplets from the oral cavities of their patients and have subsequently become infected. The Indonesian government commenced its COVID-19 vaccination program in January 2021. It is necessary to achieve high COVID-19 vaccination coverage rates among health workers. However, immunizations are voluntary, and some healthcare workers may be reluctant to receive them. The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and acceptance of dental professionals of COVID-19 vaccines. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among dentists taking part in the Indonesia Dental Association webinar in June 2021. Google Docs was used to create an online questionnaire, which was disseminated to the participants at the end of the webinar. The questionnaire consisted of 15 questions developed after being reviewed by experts. The questionnaire collected demographic data (age, gender, location, and affiliation/institution) and data on the dental professionals' knowledge and acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines in Indonesia as well as their attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccines. The respondents selected one option (agree/neutral/disagree) in response to each statement in the questionnaire. For data analysis, the respondents were divided into three groups according to their professional activity/employment category: national hospital (GOV), private hospital (PRIVATE), or academic faculty in a dental school (ACADEMIC). The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and expressed as frequencies and percentages. A chi-square test was used to investigate the association between professional activity and acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines. Results: In total, 779 dentists from 34 provinces in Indonesia completed the questionnaire. There were 646 (83%) females and 133 (17%) males, with an age range of 24-73 years. In terms of the distribution of professional affiliations, the respondents included 23 (3%) academics, 285 (36.5%) private hospital/private practice practitioners, and 471 (60.5%) national hospital practitioners. In the statistical analysis, unadjusted odds ratios (ORs) were calculated with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Conclusions: Acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines is an essential determinant of vaccine uptake and the likelihood of controlling the COVID-19 pandemic. There is agreement between dental professionals in private hospitals and academic faculties (dental school) regarding the need for COVID-19 vaccination. Developing strategies to reduce public hesitation and increase trust is vital for implementing vaccination programs, and dentists can play a role in increasing the uptake of COVID-19 vaccines.

Efficacy of World Health Organization-recommended homemade hand sanitizer against bacteria and fungus

Handwashing is among the best practices to prevent the transmission of various diseases especially during the pandemic. Handwashing with soap can reduce respiratory tract infections. The World Health Organization (WHO) released guidelines for making homemade hand sanitizer. Objective: This study aimed to analyze the effectiveness of antibacterial handrub, as recommended by WHO, containing ethanol, hydrogen peroxide, and glycerol in varying concentrations against bacteria and fungus. Methods: This experimental laboratory study was designed to assay the efficacy of hand sanitizer ingredients—96% ethanol, 3% hydrogen peroxide, and 98% glycerol, as recommended by WHO—against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans. Commercial hand rubs were used in this study for comparison. Result: Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) testing showed that the WHO hand rub at 25% concentration inhibited E. coli and S. aureus growth, while 12,5% concentration inhibited C. albicans. Conclusion: The WHO-recommended homemade hand sanitizer containing ethanol, hydrogen peroxide, and glycerol at a concentration of 50% is effective in eliminating Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and concentration of 25% is effective on Candida albicans. Further study is needed to analyse these materials against other bacteria and viruses. Keywords: Antibacterial agent;Candida albicans;Escherichia coli;hand sanitizer;Staphylococcus aureus

The Efficacy of High-Volume Evacuators and Extraoral Vacuum Aspirators in Reducing Aerosol and Droplet in Ultrasonic Scaling Procedures during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: SARS-CoV-2 can be carried by aerosols and droplets produced during dental procedures, particularly by the use of high-speed handpieces, air-water syringes, and ultrasonic scalers. High-volume evacuators (HVEs) and extraoral vacuum aspirators (EOVAs) reduce such particles. However, there is limited data on their efficacy. This study aimed to determine the efficacy of HVE and EOVA in reducing aerosols and droplets during ultrasonic scaling procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three ultrasonic scaling simulations were conducted on mannequins: 1. saliva ejector (SE) was used alone (control); 2. SE was used in combination with HVE; and 3. SE was used in combination with HVE and EOVA. Paper filters were placed on the operator's and assistant's face shields and bodies, and the contamination of aerosols and droplets was measured by counting blue spots on the paper filters. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: All data were analyzed for normality using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. The differences between each method were analyzed using a two-way ANOVA, followed by a posthoc test. The differences were considered statistically significant when p < 0.05. RESULT: Using HVE and EOVA reduced aerosols and droplets better than using SE alone or SE and HVE: the posthoc test for contamination revealed a significant difference (p < 0.01). The assistant was subjected to greater contamination than the operator during all three ultrasonic scaling procedures. CONCLUSION: The usage of HVE and EOVA significantly reduced aerosols and droplets compared with using SE solely. Using these techniques together could prevent the transmission of airborne disease during dental cleanings, especially COVID-19. Further studies of aerosol-reducing devices are still needed to ensure the safety of dental workers and patients.

COVID-19 Vaccines in Indonesia: Knowledge, Attitudes, and Acceptance Among Dental Professionals

Background: At the time of writing, the number of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in Indonesia has exceeded 2 million. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused severe disruptions in and unprecedented challenges to healthcare systems, including the one in Indonesia. Healthcare professionals, especially dentists, have an increased risk of contracting the virus. Many dental professionals in Indonesia have been exposed to the virus through close contact with aerosols and droplets from the oral cavities of their patients and have subsequently become infected. The Indonesian government commenced its COVID-19 vaccination program in January 2021. It is necessary to achieve high COVID-19 vaccination coverage rates among health workers. However, immunizations are voluntary, and some healthcare workers may be reluctant to receive them. The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and acceptance of dental professionals of COVID-19 vaccines. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among dentists taking part in the Indonesia Dental Association webinar in June 2021. Google Docs was used to create an online questionnaire, which was disseminated to the participants at the end of the webinar. The questionnaire consisted of 15 questions developed after being reviewed by experts. The questionnaire collected demographic data (age, gender, location, and affiliation/institution) and data on the dental professionals' knowledge and acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines in Indonesia as well as their attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccines. The respondents selected one option (agree/neutral/disagree) in response to each statement in the questionnaire. For data analysis, the respondents were divided into three groups according to their professional activity/employment category: national hospital (GOV), private hospital (PRIVATE), or academic faculty in a dental school (ACADEMIC). The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and expressed as frequencies and percentages. A chi-square test was used to investigate the association between professional activity and acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines. Results: In total, 779 dentists from 34 provinces in Indonesia completed the questionnaire. There were 646 (83%) females and 133 (17%) males, with an age range of 24–73 years. In terms of the distribution of professional affiliations, the respondents included 23 (3%) academics, 285 (36.5%) private hospital/private practice practitioners, and 471 (60.5%) national hospital practitioners. In the statistical analysis, unadjusted odds ratios (ORs) were calculated with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Conclusions: Acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines is an essential determinant of vaccine uptake and the likelihood of controlling the COVID-19 pandemic. There is agreement between dental professionals in private hospitals and academic faculties (dental school) regarding the need for COVID-19 vaccination. Developing strategies to reduce public hesitation and increase trust is vital for implementing vaccination programs, and dentists can play a role in increasing the uptake of COVID-19 vaccines.

COVID-19 Awareness Among Dental Professionals in Indonesia.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 has claimed thousands of lives worldwide. To enhance knowledge and awareness of COVID-19, considerable online resources have been made available, including aspects related to the dental profession. The study aim was to examine the knowledge, perception, and attitude of dental professionals in Indonesia toward COVID-19. We conducted a survey via a questionnaire created using Google docs and distributed to 632 members of the Indonesian Dental Association in the context of a webinar hosted by the Indonesian Oral Biology Association on first June, 2020. Materials and Methods: The questionnaire consisted of 17 items pertaining to demographic data, knowledge and virus identification, awareness regarding drugs commonly used in dentistry during pandemic and research opportunities. Participants were asked to complete the questionnaire after the webinar by choosing one answer to each question. For the analysis, participants were divided into three groups according to their professional background i.e., employment at national hospital, private hospital, or academic faculty. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and expressed as frequencies and percentages. The chi-square test was used to investigate the association between professional activity and the level of knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes about COVID-19. Results: Sixty percent of the participants correctly identified the pathogenesis of the disease. This knowledge was not associated with their professional affiliation (p = 0.95). Sixty-seven percentage had comprehensive knowledge about virus detection methods. This knowledge was not associated with their affiliation either (p = 0.54). Questions regarding drugs of choice, prevention, and the spread of COVID-19 were correctly answered by 89, 96, and 82% of the participants, respectively. Knowledge of these aspects were significantly associated with the professional affiliation (p < 0.05). All respondents were optimistic regarding research opportunities (p < 0.01). Respondents from academics were more interested in joining COVID-19-related research projects with governmental institutions (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Knowledge and awareness of COVID-19 among Indonesian dentists are reasonably good. However, further improvement would be beneficial to manage patients during this pandemic. As the number of COVID-19 cases continue to rise in Indonesia, it is important that dentists keep abreast of the updated knowledge on this moving field. Dentist knowledge on infection control should be strengthened through continuous educational programs.