Department of Oral Health Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, University of British Columbia, 116/2199 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, V6T 1Z3, Canada.
Department of Oral Biological and Medical Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
BMC Oral Health. 2020 Dec 2;20(1):352. doi: 10.1186/s12903-020-01340-y.
The current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is impacting the way in which dental services are provided. The aim of this narrative review was twofold: to summarize key areas from the Canadian protocols available for the reopening and restructuring of dental services across the country and to critically review these protocols based on existing evidence. A narrative review of the existing Canadian protocols, written in English and French, was undertaken between April 15 and July 13, 2020. The protocols were obtained by searching through regulatory bodies and websites from professional organizations, and from personal contacts through academic institutions and policy leaders. The data extraction form focused only on protocols related to dentistry, and the information was compiled by a hired assistant. Content was categorized via group discussions with the research team on eight areas: office management and procedures, patient and staff screening, treatment procedures, office layout, risk reduction, personal protective equipment, supporting information, and length and readability. Thirteen protocols were identified and offered substantial variation in the level of details provided. All but two protocols specified proper donning/doffing of personal protective equipment, while all protocols recommended daily monitoring of COVID-19 related signs and symptoms in staff and patients. They varied in terms of recommended mask types, eye and face shield protection, and head coverings. While all protocols aimed at restructuring emergency dental services, their recommendations were often not based on the published evidence. This narrative review summarized key areas from 13 provincial and territorial protocols in Canada to help oral health care providers plan the reopening of their services. The information conveyed across all documents was clear, but variance highlights the need for a coordinated effort to develop an evidence-based document for dental practitioners.
当前的 2019 年冠状病毒病(COVID-19)大流行正在影响牙科服务的提供方式。本叙述性综述的目的有两个:总结加拿大协议中有关全国牙科服务重新开放和重组的关键领域,并根据现有证据对这些协议进行批判性审查。2020 年 4 月 15 日至 7 月 13 日,对现有的加拿大协议进行了叙述性综述,这些协议为英文和法文撰写。通过搜索监管机构和专业组织的网站以及通过学术机构和政策领导者的个人联系,获得了这些协议。数据提取表仅关注与牙科相关的协议,信息由一名受雇的助手汇编。内容通过与研究团队就以下八个领域进行的小组讨论进行分类:办公室管理和程序、患者和员工筛查、治疗程序、办公室布局、降低风险、个人防护设备、支持信息以及长度和可读性。确定了 13 项协议,并在提供的详细程度方面存在很大差异。除了两项协议外,所有协议都规定了正确佩戴/脱下个人防护设备,而所有协议都建议医护人员和患者每天监测与 COVID-19 相关的症状和体征。它们在推荐的口罩类型、眼部和面部盾牌保护以及头饰方面有所不同。尽管所有协议都旨在重组紧急牙科服务,但它们的建议通常不是基于已发表的证据。本叙述性综述总结了加拿大 13 个省和地区协议中的关键领域,以帮助口腔卫生保健提供者计划重新开放其服务。所有文件传达的信息都很清楚,但差异突出表明需要协调努力,为牙科从业者制定一份基于证据的文件。