A Comparative Study on Anxiety Towards COVID-19 Among Dental Postgraduate Trainees of Different Specialties in Karachi, Pakistan

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Dental health care workers around the globe are potentially vulnerable of contracting COVID-19 disease. Many studies have investigated the presence of anxiety and mental health issues amongst the healthcare worker, especially the dental professional, during COVID-19. This study aimed to compare the anxiety of dental postgraduate trainees of different specialties towards COVID-19. METHODOLOGY: An online questionnaire comprising 11 items was forwarded to dental postgraduate (PGs) trainees in Karachi for specialties of Endodontics/Operative Dentistry, Oral Surgery, Prosthodontics and Orthodontics. Responses to 9 questions were recorded on a 3-point Likert scale, where ‘Agree’ indicated anxiety and ‘Disagree’ showed no anxiety. Questions also inquired PGs opinion about the specialty and dental procedures which they perceived to have the greatest risk of infection. RESULTS: Almost 62% of responses by the participants affirmed their anxiety as demonstrated by their reply to various questions based on Likert scale. Gender (p =0.012) and marital status (p= 0.036) revealed significant difference with respect to anxiety related to closure of dental OPD in face of second wave of COVID-19 and treatment cost if infected, respectively.Treatments like ultrasonic scaling (84%) and endodontics (79%) while training in specialty of Endodontics/Operative Dentistry (88%) and Oral Surgery (69%) were considered having greatest risk to contract COVID-19. CONCLUSION: Anxiety was expressed among trainees of all dental specialties, with training in specialties of Endodontics and Oral Surgery considered at the highest risk of contracting COVID-19, with ultrasonic scaling and endodontics regarded as most risky procedures. KEYWORDS: Anxiety, COVID-19, Endodontics/Operative Dentistry, Oral Surgery, Orthodontics, Prosthodontics.