Awareness of COVID-19 among dental students: A preliminary study

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the awareness regarding COVID-19 among dental students in teaching institutions in India.Materials and Methods: A total of 104 subjects participated in this survey. An anonymous, self-administered, verified multiple choice questionnaire was administered to obtain information from the subjects. It included 5 questions on awareness regarding COVID-19 comprising of aetiology, mode of transmission, clinical features, treatment options and dental precautions.Results: Percentage of subjects who correctly answered questions of COVID-19 were 95.2% for aetiology, 52.9% for clinical features, 94.2% for primary mode of transmission, 54.9% for treatment options and 56.7% for dental precautions. Conclusion: The findings of the present study showed that some notable deficiencies in knowledge existed among dental students regarding some vital aspects of COVID-19. Therefore, there appears to be an urgent need for improving dental students’ awareness via health education and training programs.