Department of Stomatology, The People's Hospital of China Three Gorges University/ The First People's Hospital of Yichang, 2 Jiefang Road, Yichang, 443000, China.
Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, 60 College Street, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA.
BMC Oral Health. 2020 Nov 26;20(1):342. doi: 10.1186/s12903-020-01335-9.
Dental staff were characterized with the tolerance of enduring stress and they are at a high risk to respiratory infectious disease. This study compared the anxiety level of the frontline dental staff (FDS) to the general public in Yichang during the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and examined potential explanatory factors to the differences.
Two online questionnaires were used separately to collect data from FDS and the general public. The Chinese version of Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) was included for the assessment of anxiety. Firstly, a Chi-square test was conducted to compare the anxiety state between these two groups. Then, a bivariate analysis using Cramer's V and Eta squared was conducted to find the potential factors. Lastly, a binary logistic regression was performed to examine the association between potential factors and the anxiety state of FDS.
In general, FDS were 4.342 (95% CI: 2.427-7.768) times more likely to suffer from anxiety disorders than the general public. The bivariate analysis showed that age, Level Three Protective Measures (PM-3), conflicts with patients and/or colleagues were moderately associated with the anxiety state of FDS. But the knowledge of COVID-19, the treatment to suspected or confirmed cases both had a weak association with the anxiety among FDS. Conversely, workload, the exposure to potential infectious substance and conducting aerosol generated performance were not significantly related to the anxiety of FDS. As the model indicated, an elder age and PM-3 protective measures could lower the anxiety state of FDS, whereas the conflict with patients or/and colleagues would worsen it.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, FDS were more likely to suffer from anxiety disorders than the general public. An elder age, sufficient personal protective measures and good relationships with colleagues and patients would help them to maintain good mental health.
牙科医护人员具有承受压力的能力，他们患呼吸道传染病的风险很高。本研究比较了 2019 年冠状病毒病（COVID-19）大流行期间宜昌市一线牙科医护人员（FDS）和普通公众的焦虑水平，并探讨了造成这种差异的潜在解释因素。
分别使用两份在线问卷从 FDS 和普通公众中收集数据。采用贝克焦虑量表（BAI）中文版评估焦虑程度。首先，进行卡方检验比较两组焦虑状态。然后，采用 Cramer's V 和 Eta 平方进行双变量分析，寻找潜在因素。最后，采用二元逻辑回归检验潜在因素与 FDS 焦虑状态之间的关系。
总体而言，FDS 患焦虑障碍的可能性是普通公众的 4.342 倍（95%CI：2.427-7.768）。双变量分析显示，年龄、三级防护措施（PM-3）、与患者和/或同事的冲突与 FDS 的焦虑状态中度相关。但是，对 COVID-19 的了解、对疑似或确诊病例的治疗与 FDS 之间的焦虑均呈弱相关。相反，工作量、接触潜在传染性物质和进行气溶胶产生操作与 FDS 的焦虑无显著相关性。模型表明，年龄较大和 PM-3 防护措施可降低 FDS 的焦虑状态，而与患者或/和同事的冲突则会加重焦虑状态。
在 COVID-19 大流行期间，FDS 比普通公众更容易患焦虑障碍。年龄较大、充分的个人防护措施以及与同事和患者的良好关系有助于他们保持良好的心理健康。
