The Psychological Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Oral Health Care Workers and its Impact on Their Willingness to Work During this Pandemic

Abstract

This study was aimed to investigate the relationship between the psychological status of oral health care workers (OHCWs) and the willingness to treat a patient during the COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-sectional study was carried out on oral health care workers at ten different dental hospitals in Pakistan from March to July 2020. Information on the socio-demographic status, and willingness to report for duty and treat patients during the COVID-19 pandemic were assessed using a self-administered questionnaire. The psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was assessed using the Urdu version of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale and Impact of Events Scale. Simple and multiple linear regression tests were used for analysis. A total of 392 OHCWs participated in this study and 25% of them had moderate to severe anxiety levels and only 14% had post-traumatic stress disorder. About 26% of the OHCWs were willing to work and treat patients during the COVID-19 pandemic and they had lower anxiety and stress scores. Greater anxiety and stress were associated with participants who were older, female, single, married, living with family and friends. The adjusted coefficients of GAD and IES scores were greater in participants who were not willing and unsure to work compared to their colleagues who were willing. The OHCWs are anxious and stressed because of the COVID-19 outbreak and that affects the perception of whether they should work and treat patients during the pandemic.

Post-traumatic stress in healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…209 articles continued to the full text screening stage, of which 119 studies were selected for inclusion in our meta-analysis with a total of 117,143 participants ( Table 1A ). All 119 studies were cross-sectional observational studies ( Agberotimi et al., 2020 ; Alah et al., 2021 ; Ali et al., 2020 , 2022 , 2021 ; Alonso et al., 2021 ; Alshehri and Alghamdi, 2021 ; Asnakew et al., 2021 ; Ayalew et al., 2022 ; Azoulay et al., 2021 ; Bassi et al., 2021 ; Benzakour et al., 2022 ; Bizri et al., 2022 ; Bonzini et al., 2022 ; Bulut et al., 2021 ; Caillet et al., 2020 ; Caliandro et al., 2022 ; Carmassi et al., 2022 , 2021a , 2021b ; Chang et al., 2022 ; Chan et al., 2021 ; Chatzittofis et al., 2021 ; Chaudhary et al., 2021 ; B. Chen et al., 2022 ; Cheng et al., 2020 ; Chen et al., 2021 ; Chew et al., 2020 ; Chowdhury et al., 2021 ; Civantos et al., 2020a , 2020b ; Cortés-Álvarez and Vuelvas-Olmos, 2020 ; Costantini et al., 2022 ; Crowe et al., 2022 ; Demartini et al., 2020 ; Dobson et al., 2021 ; Dykes et al., 2022 ; Ergai et al., 2022 ; Essadek et al., 2022 ; Fattori et al., 2021 ; Geng et al., 2021 ; Gilleen et al., 2021 ; Gorini et al., 2020 ; Guo et al., 2021 ; Hajure et al., 2021 ; Hasanvandi et al., 2022 ; Honarmand et al., 2022 ; Hong et al., 2021 ; Huarcaya-Victoria et al., 2022 ; …”

Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders and Their Associated Risk Factors among Pakistani Dental Practitioners: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Its high frequency and the stress it causes in terms of absence from work, reduction in productivity, and some cases premature retirement are some of the challenges dental professionals have to face [ 5 , 6 ]. These consequences result in economic loss either in terms of financial loss, rehabilitation, or decreased productivity [ 3 , 4 , 7 ]. The unilateral excessive stresses on muscles, joints, and nerves for a long period, together with elevated unsupported arms, the vibration of instruments, and maintaining an awkward static position for a long time during the dental procedures result in WMSDs [ 3 , 8 , 9 ].…”

Psychological Impact of COVID-19 in the Setting of Dentistry: A Review Article

“…After reading the whole text of the remaining 138 articles, 16 were excluded and a further article was added by reverse search ( Figure 1 ). Finally, 123 studies were included in the review, 80 focusing on dental professionals [ 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 , …”