title: Knowledge and Apprehension of Dental Patients about MERS-A Questionnaire Survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is a disease caused by beta corona virus. From April 11(th) to 9(th) June 2014, World Health Organization (WHO) reported a total of 402 laboratory confirmed cases of MERS from KSA, out of which 132 cases were reported from Riyadh alone.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and apprehension of patients about MERS visiting Al Farabi College of Dentistry, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional questionnaire based survey was conducted which consisted of 10 self-prepared questions. A total of 404 patients participated in this study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three hundred and forty patients had heard about MERS. Nearly a quarter of the patients (25.74%) were apprehensive about undergoing dental treatment because of MERS. A little more than half of the patients (50.99%) knew that camel was a source of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-Corona virus. Most of the patients (80.72%) were aware of the infection control measures to be followed by dentist and 138 patients claimed they took some precaution when present inside the dental college.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Majority of the patients had heard about MERS and was aware of the infection control measures. However, some patients were apprehensive about undergoing dental treatment because of MERS. Further steps need to be taken to educate the patient's about transmission of MERS and infection control measures in a dental hospital.
authors.affiliation: Faculty, Department of Oral Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Alfarabi College of Dentistry , Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia .
authors.forename: Nipun
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ashok
authors.affiliation: Faculty, Department of Restorative Dentistry, Alfarabi College of Dentistry , Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia .
authors.forename: Jean Clare
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.affiliation: Faculty, Department of Oral Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Alfarabi College of Dentistry , Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia .
authors.forename: Khalid
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Azouni
authors.affiliation: Faculty, Department of Oral Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Alfarabi College of Dentistry , Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia .
authors.forename: Shorouk
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Darwish
authors.affiliation: Faculty, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University , Saudi Arabia .
authors.forename: Abdulwahab
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abuderman
authors.affiliation: Faculty, Vice Dean for Development and Quality, Al-Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, College of Medicine , Kingdom of Saudi Arabia .
authors.forename: Abdul Aziz Fahad
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Alkaabba
authors.affiliation: Faculty, Department of Oral Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Alfarabi College of Dentistry , Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia .
authors.forename: Bassel
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tarakji
keywords: Aerosol infection; Coronavirus; Respiratory infection