IMPACT OF COVID-19 LOCKDOWN ON ROTATIONAL POSTINGS OF DENTAL HOUSE SURGEONS IN TELANGANA STATE - A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The lockdown resulted in cancellation of dental house surgeon’s clinical rotations and
posed a unique challenge to education. The aim of this study was to explore the impact of Covid-19 lockdown
on rotational postings of dental house surgeons. METHODS: A validated questionnaire with five domains
was prepared using Google forms was shared as online link among the dental house surgeons of seven dental
colleges of Telangana who were posted during first phase of Covid-19 pandemic. Descriptive statistical
analysis, Chi square test and Kruskal wallis test were done to draw the frequencies and to know the impact
due to lockdown. RESULTS: A total of 384 participants responded to the questionnaire of which 70.8% were
females. Nearly 56.7% of the dental house surgeons felt that the Covid-19 lockdown had negatively impacted
their clinical training and academics. Atleast 58.5% of the respondents felt that online classes and webinars
were useful during the lockdown period. CONCLUSION: The Covid-19 outbreak compromised the clinical
training affecting hands-on experience and causing a significant disruption of dental house surgeons training
and curriculum.