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Fear Factor in Seeking Dental Care among Saudis during COVID-19 Pandemic

Author

Listed:
  • Maria Salem Ibrahim

    (Department of Preventive Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University, Dammam 34212, Saudi Arabia)

  • Hala Alibrahim

    (College of Dentistry, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 34212, Saudi Arabia)

  • Abdullah Al Madani

    (Dental Hospital, College of Dentistry, Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University, Dammam 34212, Saudi Arabia)

  • Abdulaziz Alamri

    (Department of Preventive Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University, Dammam 34212, Saudi Arabia)

  • Mohamed Bamashmous

    (Department of Dental Public Health, Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia)

  • Abrar Tounsi

    (Department of Periodontics and Community Dentistry, College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia)

Abstract

The recent coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic led to major lifestyle changes. The present study sought to assess factors associated with fear to seek dental care during COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia. This cross-sectional study was conducted during the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020. An online questionnaire was filled by a convenient sample of adult Saudi residents through mobile instant messaging application. The following measures were collected: sociodemographic characteristics, fear of COVID-19 using validated Fears of Illness and Virus Evaluation scale, fear to seek dental care, perceived health status, and COVID-19 experience. There were 826 participants involved in this study (541 females and 285 males, mean age: 38.8 ± 13.29 years). Fear to seek dental care was significantly higher among females, younger age groups, people who perceived poor general and oral health, and people who perceived high risk of contracting the virus in dental clinics. After controlling for confounders, fear to seek dental care was significantly higher among the age group of 35–44 years, those who perceived high and moderate risk of COVID-19 infection in dental clinics, and among participants who reported untreated dental conditions. Fear that Others Get Sick, Fear of the Impact on Social Life, and Behaviors Related to Illness and Virus Fears were significantly associated with high levels of fear to seek dental care. Within the study’s limitations, fear of COVID-19 negatively impacted the study population’s willingness to seek dental treatment. Factors such as age, perceived risk of COVID-19 infection in dental clinics, and untreated dental conditions were associated with fear to seek dental care.

Suggested Citation

  • Maria Salem Ibrahim & Hala Alibrahim & Abdullah Al Madani & Abdulaziz Alamri & Mohamed Bamashmous & Abrar Tounsi, 2021. "Fear Factor in Seeking Dental Care among Saudis during COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-12, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:20:p:10589-:d:652769
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Cuiyan Wang & Riyu Pan & Xiaoyang Wan & Yilin Tan & Linkang Xu & Cyrus S. Ho & Roger C. Ho, 2020. "Immediate Psychological Responses and Associated Factors during the Initial Stage of the 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Epidemic among the General Population in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-25, March.
    2. Yingfei Zhang & Zheng Feei Ma, 2020. "Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Health and Quality of Life among Local Residents in Liaoning Province, China: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-12, March.
    3. Juah Kim & Yeonghun Kim & Jiyeon Ha, 2021. "Changes in Daily Life during the COVID-19 Pandemic among South Korean Older Adults with Chronic Diseases: A Qualitative Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-14, June.
    4. Abrar Tounsi & Shahad Alammar & Nassr Almaflehi & Mohamed Bamashmous & Abdullah Al Madani & Maria Salem Ibrahim, 2021. "Psychometric Validation of the Arabic Fear of Illness and Virus Evaluation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-15, August.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Olivera Dolic & Marija Obradovic & Zeljka Kojic & Natasa Knezevic & Natasa Trtic & Valentina Veselinovic & Slava Sukara, 2022. "Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Paediatric Dental Treatment: A Retrospective Study in Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-9, September.
    3. Katsuo Oshima & Hiroko Miura & Rumi Tano & Hideki Fukuda, 2022. "Factors Associated with Regular Dental Checkups’ Discontinuation during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Web-Based Survey in Japan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-11, March.
    4. Tatiana Sella Tunis & Tal Ratson & Shlomo Matalon & Michael Abba & Alex Abramson & Moshe Davidovitch & Nir Shpack, 2022. "The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Israeli Orthodontic Practice: A Clinic’s Activity and Patients’ Attitudes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-14, February.

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