Objective: To evaluate the opinions of dentists on the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) vaccine and to determine their professional continuity during pandemic, protective practices in social life in Turkey. Material and Methods: Ethical approval and the mandatory formal permissions were obtained. The data were gathered via an e-questionnaire, which was e-mailed to all members of Turkish Dental Association (n=30,615), between 15 March-15 April 2021. The questionnaire consisted of questions related to sociodemographic, living and professional practice characteristics during COVID-19 pandemic, and opinions about COVID-19 vaccine. Results: A total of 364 dentists (216 female, 148 male) with the mean (±standard deviation) age of 42.1 (±13.8) participated in this descriptive study. Of all, 89.1% had continued working and 95.7% continued aerosol operation practice during the pandemic, and 27 (7.4%) were infected with COVID-19. One in 4 (26.2%) of all stated that they were separating themselves from family members in the domestic life like sleeping, eating and relaxing periods. Of all, 326 (89.6%) vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccine, and 58.5% thought that the vaccination should be mandatory for everyone. Being age ≥35 years [odds ratio (OR)=6.57; confidence interval (CI)=2.06- 21.01], not having pneumonia vaccine during the pandemic (OR=13.97; CI=1.28-152.06), thought of application of the vaccine not to be mandatory (OR=18.81; CI=5.84-60.58) and not recommending vaccination to family members (OR=19.99; CI=6.84-58.49) were statistically significantly related with not having COVID-19 vaccination. Conclusion: Contrary to expectations, the dentists participated in this study showed not very high compliance of vaccination. As a role model in public, dentists have to be aware of their responsibility related to COVID-19 vaccination and protective behaviors.
Keywords: Dentists; COVID-19 vaccines; vaccination; opinions; professional practice
Amaç: Çalışmanın amacı, Türkiye'de diş hekimlerinin koronavirüs hastalığı-2019 [coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19)] aşısı hakkındaki görüşlerini değerlendirmek, pandemi sırasındaki mesleki sürekliliklerini ve sosyal hayattaki koruyucu uygulamalarını belirlemektir. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Etik onay ve zorunlu resmî izinler alınmıştır. Veriler, Türk Diş Hekimleri Birliğinin tüm üyelerine e-posta yoluyla gönderilen bir e-anket aracılığıyla 15 Mart-15 Nisan 2021 tarihleri arasında toplanmıştır (n=30.615). Anket, sosyodemografik özellikler ve COVID-19 pandemisi sırasındaki yaşam ve mesleki uygulama özellikleri ile katılımcıların COVID-19 aşısı hakkındaki görüşleriyle ilgili sorulardan oluşmaktadır. Bulgular: Tanımlayıcı tipteki bu araştırmaya, yaş ortalaması (±standart sapma) 42,1 (±13,8) yıl olan toplam 364 diş hekimi (216 kadın, 148 erkek) katılmıştır. Pandemi süresince katılımcıların %89,1'i çalışmaya ve %95,7'si aerosollü işlem uygulamasına devam etmiş ve 27 (%7,4) kişide COVID-19 ile enfekte olmuştur. Her 4 kişiden 1'i (%26,2) uyku, yemek yeme ve dinlenme gibi ev hayatında aile üyelerinden kendini ayırdığını belirtmiştir. Katılımcıların 326'sı (%89,6) COVID-19 aşısı ile aşılanmış ve %58,5'i aşının herkes için zorunlu olması gerektiğini düşündüğünü belirtmiştir. Yaşın ≥35 olması [odds oranı (OO) 6,57; güven aralığı (GA)=2,06-21,01], pandemi sırasında zatürre aşısı yaptırmamak (OO=13,97; GA=1,28-152,06), aşının zorunlu bir uygulama olmaması düşüncesi (OO=18,81; GA=5,84-60,58) ve aile üyelerine aşı önermemek (OO=19,99; GA=6,84-58,49) COVID19 aşısı olmama ile istatistiksel olarak anlamlı derecede ilişkili bulunmuştur. Sonuç: Bu araştırmaya katılan diş hekimlerinin aşı uyumunun beklenenin aksine çok yüksek olmadığını görülmüştür. Toplumda rol model olarak diş hekimlerinin COVID-19 aşısı ve koruyucu davranışlarla ilgili sorumluluklarının bilincinde olmaları gerekmektedir.
Anahtar Kelimeler: Diş hekimleri; COVID-19 aşıları; aşılama; görüşler; mesleki uygulama
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