Frequency of Personal Protective Equipment Use Against Coronavirus Among Dental Students at Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences in 2020



Arjmandzadeh M¹ ; Tabarestani A² ; Yaghoubirad S^{3, 4} ; Aryana M² ; Hali H^{4, 5} ; Mollaei M² Show Affiliations
Source: Journal of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences Published:2025

Abstract

Background and purpose: The sudden outbreak of the 2019 coronavirus (COVID-19) in Wuhan, China, has led to a public health crisis. To prevent COVID-19 transmission, dentists and dental students should use personal protective equipment (PPE) and implement cross-contamination prevention methods while performing dental work. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine the use of personal protective equipment among dental students at Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. Materials and methods: In this cross-sectional study, 143 dental students at Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences were included in 2020 using the census method. Information, including the year of admission to the university, age, and gender, along with items related to the use of protective gowns, masks, gloves, shoe protectors, and eye protection, was collected from the participants. Data were collected using a researcher-made demographic questionnaire consisting of 33 questions related to the use of PPE against COVID-19. Data analysis was performed using the Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients in SPSS version 24. The significance level was set at P< 0.05. Results: During this study, 143 dental students, including 67 men (46.9%) and 76 women (53.1%), were studied. The findings showed that there was a statistically significant relationship between age, year of admission, and marital status with the use of PPE (P<0.05). However, no significant relationship was found between the use of PPE and students' gender or place of residence. Conclusion: According to the findings, the level of compliance with personal protective principles was moderate in more than half of the students. However, it is necessary to provide additional training to students who are in direct contact with these patients to prevent viral diseases, including COVID-19. © 2025, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved.