KNOWLEDGE, AWARENESS, AND ATTITUDE TOWARD MUCORMYCOSIS AMONG DENTISTS, INTERNS, AND DENTAL STUDENTS IN SAUDI ARABIA: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY.
Abstract
Introduction: Mucormycosis, also known as black fungus, is a rare but dangerous fungal infection affecting immunocompromised individuals. It's angioinvasive, caused by specific Mucorales fungi in the Zygomycetes class. The infection causes thrombosis and tissue necrosis. The infection leads to rapid progression and mortality unless risk factors are are controlled, antifungal therapy is administered, and surgical excision is done.
Objectives: This study aimed to assess the level of knowledge, awareness, and attitude regarding mucormycosis among dentists, interns, and dental students in Saudi Arabia.
Methodology: This study is an observational cross-sectional study, based on a structured questionnaire, conducted between July to December 2024 in Saudi Arabia. The study plans to recruit participants through social media sites. All dental practitioners, dental interns, and 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th year undergraduate dental students who agreed to participate in the questionnaire in Saudi Arabia were included in the study. The sample size calculation was conducted to ensure a minimum of 384 participants, with a 95% confidence level and 5% margin of error. The questionnaire consisted of four parts: demographic information, knowledge questions, awareness questions, and attitude questions. The answers were tabulated and statistically analyzed.
Results: This study evaluates the knowledge, awareness, and attitudes regarding mucormycosis among 466 dental professionals, interns, and students in Saudi Arabia. The results reveal that only 53.2% correctly identified mucormycosis as a fungal infection, indicating educational gaps, particularly in symptom recognition, with just 29.8% aware of its clinical manifestations. Despite 38.2% considering it "moderately dangerous," 45.3% deemed it "very dangerous," reflecting a general awareness but also misconceptions. Notably, 85.2% of respondents emphasized the need for educational initiatives, while 66.1% recognized dentists as essential in managing this condition. These findings underscore a critical need for enhanced training in mucormycosis across dental education.
Conclusion: The findings of this study highlight significant gaps in knowledge and awareness of mucormycosis among dentists, interns, and dental students in Saudi Arabia. The results underscore the urgent need for enhanced educational initiatives to address these gaps, improve overall awareness, and ensure effective clinical management of this serious fungal infection.