Background Frontline workers (FLWs) are at a higher risk of COVID-19 infection during care interactions than the general population. Personal protective equipment (PPE) is regarded as an effective intervention for limiting the transmission of airborne viruses. However, research examining FLWs' intention to use PPE is limited. Objectives This study addresses this research gap and also contributes by expanding the conceptual mechanism of planned behavior theory by incorporating three novel dimensions (perceived benefits of PPE, risk perceptions of the epidemic, and unavailability of PPE) in order to gain a better understanding of the factors that influence FLWs' intentions to use PPE. Method Analysis is based on a sample of 763 FLWs in Pakistan using a questionnaire survey, and the structural equation modeling approach is employed to evaluate the suppositions. Results Study results indicate that attitude, perceived benefits of PPE, and risk perceptions of the epidemic have positive influence on FLWs' intention to use PPE. In comparison, the unavailability of PPE and the cost of PPE have opposite effects. Meanwhile, environmental concern has a neutral effect. Conclusions The study results specify the importance of publicizing COVID-19's lethal impacts on the environment and society, ensuring cheap PPE, and simultaneously enhancing workplace safety standards.

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Interventions for the Current COVID-19 Pandemic: Frontline Workers' Intention to Use Personal Protective Equipment

The Dental Nurses' Guide to Infection Control and Decontamination

Background: Dental care workers including dental assistant & doctors are at joint risk of receiving infection. Cross infection can be defined as “the spread of infection between staff members & patients in clinical setting.” Precautions should be adopted while treating or checking the patients.
Methods: This cross-sectional study of 3 months duration was carried on dental house officers of Multan Medical and dental college Multan. 60 dental house officers willingly participated in our study.  Universal sampling technique was utilized in order to collect the data. Informed consent was sign up from the partakers.
Results: Out of sixty dental house officers, males were twenty seven while females were thirty three . 85% participants consider that dental clinics/hospitals are more predisposed to the infection/contamination than other medical fields. 73.3% partakers wash the hands regularly after providing the treatment to every patient. All the partakers reported that usage of PPE has a foremost part in the prevention of cross contamination. Majority of the partakers use gloves as well as facemask but goggles or protective eyewear, head caps & aprons were not in use by most of participants.
Conclusion: Adequate awareness/knowledge but less satisfactory practice about infection control was reported. Knowledge acquired must also be transferred into everyday practice. Continuous infection control education through lectures/ tutorials or seminars must be organized. Cross-contamination control guidelines should also be established by dental colleges.

Awareness and Practice Regarding Cross Infection Control Among Dental House Officers in a Tertiary Care Setting

Background: Anxiety may be defined as “apprehension, uneasiness or tension that stems from an anticipation of danger, which may be external or internal”. Amputation is “A removal of the limb or its part owing to medical causes/reasons”. Low-level of social support, religiosity & self-efficacy, may have a role in commencement and continuation of mental health condition. Empathy & support are imperative for helping amputees to cope-up with an uncertainty, emotions, mobility issues, and to en-able them to adjust to new normality. Objective: The aim of study was to find an impact of duration and social support on anxiety amongst amputees. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and duration of Study:  Physical Rehabilitation Centers of Quetta. Duration of this study was 3 months. Methodology: Primary data was taken from all amputees visiting rehabilitation centers, through structured adopted questionnaire “Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale” (HADS), with the help of trained data collectors along with principal investigator. Results: 54 subjects were included in this research, of whom. Majority 49 were earning/receiving up to 30000 Pk Rs monthly. Regarding no of dependents, majority (57.5%) had 9 or above no of dependents. 

Impact of duration and social support on anxiety amongst amputees

Objective: To evaluate the level of Post-amputation anxiety among patients reporting to rehabilitation centers in Quetta
Methodology: This Cross-sectional research was done in Quetta at the three rehabilitation centres from May-July 2018. Clients with amputations were included, and then data collected through a structured-adopted questionnaire for "Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale". 54 subjects were involved, according to inclusion & exclusion criteria. Frequencies and percentages were described for categorical variables, and data was stratified by reason for amputation, gender, level of education, and marital status with respect to an outcome variable, anxiety. The collected data was then tabularized & analyzed by using Chi-square test.
Results: Out of 54 participants, 47 were men while 7 were women. Data displayed that 30 (55.6%) were normal & 24 (44.4%) had anxiety. 49(91%) & 5(9%) participants were having lower & upper limb amputations, respectively. Results indicate that level of anxiety among participants had a statistically non significant relationship with a level/type of amputation.
Conclusion: Anxiety and amputation have significant impacts on functional impairment, psychological reactions, and quality of life. The research highlights the association between amputation and anxiety, providing insight to healthcare providers that anxiety is a common occurrence in the context of amputation. The findings of this study can be valuable for prevention strategies.

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Post-Amputation Anxiety Among Patients Reporting to Rehabilitation Centers in Quetta

Objective: To evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practices about personal protective equipment (PPE) among dental surgery assistants in a Public Sector Teaching Hospital of Multan.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out among dental surgery assistants in the dental outpatient departments of a public sector hospital of Multan city from Aug to Oct 2019. Pre-structured questionnaire which comprised of socio-demographic data, questions related to knowledge, attitude and practices was used. In the domain of knowledge there were 6 items. Dental assistant who scores ≤4 were considered to have appropriate knowledge for PPE. In the domain of attitude there were 5 items. Dental assistant who scores ≤3 were considered to have positive attitude for PPE. In the domain of practices there were 6 items. Dental assistant who scores ≤4 was considered good practicing of PPE.
Results: Of 80 participants, 65 (81.25%) were males and 15 (18.75%) were females. Majority (n=54, 67.5%) of them were between 21-30 years of age. Appropriate knowledge was observed in 77 (96.3%) participants, positive attitude in 53 (66.3%) while, only 8 (10%) participants practiced good PPE. A significant difference was reported in the practices of dental assistants when compared with their knowledge (p-value 0.046) while attitude was found to be insignificant (p-value 0.710).
Conclusion: Dental surgery assistants of the renowned public sector teaching hospital of Multan city reported sound and apposite knowledge, moderate attitude while inappropriate practices about PPE.

https://www.jduhs.com/index.php/jduhs/article/download/936/1921

Practice of Personal Protective Equipment among Dental Surgery Assistants: Survey from a Public Sector Hospital

Aim: The contemplations and actions of medical undergraduates concerning their oral well-being mirror their perception of the significance of interdental cleaning aids in the maintenance of oral hygiene. The current study aimed to evaluate understanding and discernment of the practice of interdental aids as well as their role in the maintenance of oral hygiene among medical undergraduates in the district of Sheikhupura, Pakistan. Methods: A questionnaire-based cross-sectional analysis was performed from June 2021 to December 2021 at Amna Inayat Medical College in the district of Sheikhupura, Pakistan on a total of 220 medical undergraduates who were enrolled by convenient sampling method. Data were assembled using a standardized questionnaire that was circulated amongst students of 1st Year MBBS to Final Year MBBS. Associations between awareness regarding interdental cleaning and oral hygiene practice among both genders and all the years of study were assessed through the Pearson Chi-Square test. Results: The study comprised 123 females and 97 males with an average age range of 18 - 25 years. Most of the students i.e. 47.3% knew that the interproximal tooth surface is the most difficult to clean and cannot be effectively cleansed with a toothbrush only. Significant differences were seen in gender regarding the cleaning of teeth (P ≤ 0.001), the challenging surface of the tooth to clean (P ≤ 0.01), reasons for bad breath (P ≤ 0.003), knowledge of gum disease (P ≤ 0.000) and information regarding interdental cleaning (P ≤ 0.000). Practical Implication: Imparting knowledge regarding the maintenance of oral hygiene is crucial due to the connection between the oral cavity and the rest of the body. In a developing country like Pakistan, awareness, and understanding of oral hygiene is not up to the mark even in the medical population. Hence, improvement in oral hygiene can be brought about by creating public awareness regarding interdental aids in addition to brushing alone. Conclusions: Outcomes of the existing research propose that the overall understanding and awareness amongst medical undergraduates related to interdental aids was satisfactory. Established on these conclusions, additional communal-focused oral health promotions are requisite to piloting the degree of the dwelling of medical undergraduates. Keywords: Awareness, Dental, Dentist, Interdental area, Gingivitis, Knowledge, Medical Undergraduates, Oral Health, Periodontitis, Plaque.

Awareness Regarding Usage of Interdental Aids and their Role in Oral Hygiene among Medical Undergraduates in District Sheikhupura, Pakistan-A Questionnaire-Based Study

Aim:Patients suffering from Diabetes Mellitus havea largerpossibilityofdeveloping oral diseases furthermore; those who have uncontrolled and long-duration of Diabetes Mellitusare also at a greater risk for acquiringperiodontaldisorders. The present study intended to investigate the association of oral fitness knowledge and attitude with different demographic factorsin patients with Type II Diabetes Mellitus visiting a secondary care provincial hospitalin Sargodha, Pakistan. Methods: The present study was a cross-sectional study piloted at a secondary care provincial hospital in District Sargodha which comprised 180 patients suffering from Type II Diabetes Mellitus.Information was collected using a systematized questionnaire which was handed out to study participants visiting the outpatient department of the hospital. Results:Oral health knowledge of the study participants were cross-tabulated with socio-economic and demographic factors and a significant association was seen with gender(P≤0.001), educational status(P≤0.0001), monthly income(P≤0.002), and marital status(P≤0.001). In the present study, 26% of males and 18% of females had adequate knowledge regarding oral health. Advanced levels of learningand income also transpiredto have a strong association with oral health awarenessand attitude(P≤0.01). Conclusions: Results of the present study suggest that oral well-being knowledge and attitude among patients with Type II Diabetes Mellitus were strongly associated in conjunction withgender, higher levels of education, and income. Based on these outcomes, communal-oriented oral well-being campaigns are indispensable to navigating the standard of living of patients with Type II Diabetes Mellitus. Keywords: Dental, Diabetes Mellitus, Knowledge, Oral Health, Oral complications, Type II Diabetes Mellitus.

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Impact of Demographic Factors on Oral Health Knowledge and Attitude of patients with Type II Diabetesmellitus Visiting A THQ Hospital in Punjab, Pakistan

Ejaz Hussain Sahu

Papers

Practice of Personal Protective Equipment among Dental Surgery Assistants: Survey from a Public Sector Hospital

Awareness Regarding Usage of Interdental Aids and their Role in Oral Hygiene among Medical Undergraduates in District Sheikhupura, Pakistan-A Questionnaire-Based Study

Impact of Demographic Factors on Oral Health Knowledge and Attitude of patients with Type II Diabetesmellitus Visiting A THQ Hospital in Punjab, Pakistan