Perceptions towards Use of Electronic Dental Record at a Dental College, University of Hail, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

AIM: This study highlights the use of electronic dental record (EDR) of a dental college at the University of Hail. This study has examined the perceptions of the stakeholders in regard to the objective mentioned above. MATERIALS AND METHODS: It was a cross-sectional survey. The present study collected data from participants working in the dental clinics at the University of Hail. Face- and content-validated questionnaire was used as a study tool. The data were displayed in numbers and percentages. A Chi-squared test was used to measure the statistical significance. The p value < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: There were 166 respondents, out of which 92 (55.4%) were male and 74 (44.6%) were female participants. A highly significant result recorded for age group and rank/position for a variable that says using EDR will add to the skills of the dentists. Results showed that using EDR would not slow down the work. A need for a comprehensive training and the interference with the performance of dentists found as two main barriers towards the use of EDR. CONCLUSION: This study has pioneered the idea of checking on the perceptions of stakeholders to enquire about the use of EDR in clinics in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It has been reiterated by all the participants that EDR is a need for the clinics in the kingdom but some have reservations about the tedious nature of its use while some were worried about the excessive training they will need to overcome the difficulty of using it. It is observed from the stakeholders' replies that the use of EDR will slow down the work nature in clinics. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The EDR is commonly used in many developed countries. The proficiency of its use is quite acceptable. The use of EDR in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is relatively new. The present study measures the perception of its easiness and efficiency in dental practice.

Prevention Knowledge and Its Practice Towards COVID-19 Among General Population of Saudi Arabia: A Gender-based Perspective.

BACKGROUND: This study is an original contribution to the gender-based perspective of measuring knowledge and practice towards COVID-19 among the Saudi population. OBJECTIVE: This study investigates the existing knowledge of COVID-19 among both genders and its likely use in practice to combat COVID-19. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional study with an online survey and data collected from all the five regions of Saudi Arabia. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: A structured, self-reported validated questionnaire was developed based on the World Health Organization (WHO) general public advice towards COVID-19 prevention. This study has employed snow-ball sampling technique. SAMPLE SIZE: 627 participants (Male n=343, 54.7%) and (Females n=284, 45.3%). RESULTS: This study has found that women not only carry better knowledge, but their practicing behavior is far better than the male respondents. Females practiced their knowledge of hands hygiene more in comparison to males (86% vs. 80 %, p >0.05). Female respondents were also practicing more about sneezing/coughing into their elbows as compared to males (79% vs. 71%, p < 0.05). Likewise, the practice of knowledge of staying at home to prevent infection (females 98.2% vs males 95.5%, p > 0.05), and (females 83.2% vs. males 81.5%, p > 0.05), respectively. CONCLUSION: This study shows that women were more compliant with the WHO public health COVID-19 prevention advice than men, which can decrease the chances of COVID-19 infection.

Knowledge and practice regarding prevention of COVID-19 among the Saudi Arabian population.

BACKGROUND: Prevention is the best way to manage a pandemic like COVID-19. The World Health Organization has issued public advice to create awareness by providing people knowledge to prevent/protect them from COVID-19. Hence, the present study was planned to assess knowledge of prevention and its practical use amongst samples from the Saudi Arabian population. It can be used to bring awareness among the masses not only in expanding their knowledge about COVID-19 but also on how to enforce a practicing behavior in relation to the prevention of COVID-19. The study is among the pioneer studies on the issue related to knowledge and practice of the prevention of COVID-19 among Saudis and foreign nationals residing in Saudi Arabia. OBJECTIVE: The prime objective of this study is to examine the existence of knowledge among the Saudi and non-Saudi nationals about COVID-19 and its impact on their behavior to practice the protocols to prevent the disastrous infection of COVID-19. This study has also examined how the residents in Saudi Arabia react to the methods and protection measures adopted by the government for their dominions to eradicate the spread of COVID-19. METHODS: The study used a survey-based methodology and data was collected from Saudi nationals as well as expatriates living and working in five different regions of Saudi Arabia. Non-probability snowball sampling was used to reach and select the population of the current study. A self-designed, structured, and validated questionnaire was electronically distributed among the respondents. SPSS version 21 was used to analyze the data of the current study. RESULTS: Out of the 443 respondents, 356 respondents (84%) knew they had to wash their hands for 20 seconds and did this as well, 303 respondents (75%) knew that sneezing or coughing into the arm/elbow can prevent the spread of COVID-19 and were doing this as well, 357 respondents (82%) knew that COVID-19 can be transferred by shaking hands and avoided this, 333 respondents (79%) knew that they had to maintain a safe distance of at least one meter and kept this distance, 315 respondents (76%) knew that touching one's face can transfer the virus and avoid this, and 414 respondents (95%) knew that staying at home can decrease the chances of getting infected. The relationship between different regions and most of the knowledge-based and practice-based questions was significant (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Results reveal that there is a significant relationship between knowledge and practice, but the strength of association is weak. It was found that knowledge and practice of COVID-19 was followed differently in the five regions of Saudi Arabia and the level of education of the respondents influenced their choice of practice to protect themselves from the effects of COVID-19. The study has contributed in the body of literature by examining the inter-relationship between knowledge and practice and their use in prevention of COVID-19 among the Saudi population.