Photodynamic therapy procedures in coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak: perception of health risks among clinical dental faculty and dental students

A. Alsaffan

Preventive Department, College of Dentistry, Riyadh Elm University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. alsaffanar123@gmail.com

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• Dentistry
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to investigate clinical faculty members and final year dentistry students’ perceptions regarding their health concerns and risks of performing photodynamic therapy (PDT) procedure in dental clinics amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A 21-item questionnaire comprising open and closed questions was sent to dental faculty members (n=43) and final year dentistry students (n=99) of Riyadh Elm University during mid-January 2021 that ended only after two weeks. The survey included health risks perception of performing PDT procedures, the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on PDT performance and stress levels, perceived efficacy of the preventive steps, perception of the effect of the probable suspension of PDT procedure in dental clinics, and influence of alternative teaching methods of PDT procedure on clinical competence were reported.

RESULTS: A response rate of 82% for faculty members (n=35) and 75% for students (n=74) was recorded. 91% of faculty members and 95% of students felt that their health was not at risk during performing PDT procedure in dental clinics amidst the COVID-19. 82% of faculty and 83% of students expressed that the PPE and universal preventive steps to perform PDT procedure were enough for preventing the cross-infection with the virus. 89% of faculty members and 91% of students thought that a provisional suspension of PDT procedures in dental clinics would assist in containment of the virus and reduce the infection risk from the contact and not the PDT procedure.

CONCLUSIONS: Students and faculty members reported that their health is not at risk while performing PDT procedure in dental clinics amidst the COVID-19 outbreak.

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