Abstract:

Objective: This study aimed to examine and evaluate the knowledge levels, attitudes and anxiety sources regarding coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) infection in dentistry students in clinical practice. Materials and Methods: Fourth- and fifth-year dentistry students of Aydın Adnan Menderes University and Akdeniz University were selected for this study. For data collection, a questionnaire survey was performed. The questionnaire contained 34 items on demographic data, knowledge level about COVID-19 infection and attitudes and anxiety sources about their education. Descriptive statistical methods and the Pearson chi-square test were used to analyse data. P<0.05 was statistically significant. Results: A total of 137 students, including 75 females (54.7%) and 62 males (45.3%), participated in the study. Significantly higher levels of negativity and anxiety due to COVID-19 was found in female participants than in male participants, based on their responses to the following questions: “Do you believe that the lack of face-to-face training due to COVID-19 will negatively affect your working life?”; “Do you worry about graduating having completed clinical practice without direct patient care?”; “Do you worry about practising your job because of the coronavirus?” and the p values were found 0.019, 0.002 and 0.009, respectively. The answers for these questions were not related to the graduation degree. Conclusion: The results reveal that female students demonstrated higher stress levels than male students based on the responses to some questions. Moreover, responses to the same questions were not related to the graduation degree. Further larger studies will give more accurate outcomes.

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