Perbedaan pengetahuan dokter gigi umum dan spesialis terhadap pengendalian infeksi COVID-19The difference in knowledge of COVID-19 infection control among general dentists and specialists

Introduction: COVID-19 is a new type of disease that has never been previously discovered and identified in humans. The occurrence of transmission in dental practice is due to several factors where the general dentist and specialist profession is one of the professions that are very susceptible to cross- infection transmission in infectious diseases caused by contact with fluids in the body such as saliva or blood.Therefore good knowledge needed in the COVID-19 infection control. This study aimed to find the differences in the knowledge between general dental practitioners and dental specialists in controlling COVID-19 infection. Methods: This was an analytical observational research with a cross-sectional design. The total sample was 130 dentists, consisted of 80 general dental practitioners and 50 dental specialists. The sampling technique used quota sampling. Instrument in this research used an online questionnaire via google forms platform to know the characteristics of the sample and the level of knowledge regarding the control of COVID-19. The instrument had been tested for its validity and reliability. The statistical tests used to find the difference in the knowledge between general dental practitioners and dental specialists in controlling COVID-19 infection were the Mann-Whitney test and continued with logistic regression test to determine the effect of characteristics on the level of knowledge. Results: Mann-Whitney Test showed differences in the knowledge of general dental practitioners and dental specialists in controlling COVID-19 infection (p=0,018). Conclusion: There are differences in the knowledge of general dental practitioners and dental specialists in COVID-19. In addition, the profession’s characteristics affect knowledge level of COVID-19 control.