Health Research Analyst, Evidence Synthesis and Translation Research, American Dental Association Science & Research Institute, LLC, Chicago, IL, USA.
Professor and Graduate Program Director, Department of Dental Hygiene, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID, USA.
J Dent Hyg. 2021 Feb;95(1):6-16.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, health care professionals have been challenged to provide appropriate preventive and therapeutic measures while using precautions to minimize disease transmission. The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of COVID-19 among United States (US) dental hygienists, describe infection prevention and control procedures and any associated trends in mental health. Registered dental hygienists (RDHs) licensed in the US were invited to participate in a 30-question web-based survey. COVID-19 infection items included probable and confirmed results, COVID-19 related symptoms experienced in the last month, and level of concern about COVID-19 transmission to patients and themselves. The validated Patient Health Questionnaire 4 screened respondents for depression or anxiety. Personal protective equipment (PPE) use when treating patients was assessed. The research protocol and survey were approved by the American Dental Association IRB and registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04542915). Kruskal-Wallis and X tests were used to test for associations between PPE use, PPE supply, mental health symptoms, and concern about COVID-19 transmission. As of October 8, 2020, a total of 4,776 dental hygienists from all 50 states and Puerto Rico participated in the study. Respondents reported elevated symptoms of anxiety and depression. Of the respondents, 3.1% (n=149) had ever tested positive or been diagnosed with COVID-19. The majority of respondents (99.1%; n=3,328) who practiced dental hygiene reported their primary dental practice had enhanced infection prevention or control efforts in response to the pandemic. PPE use was significantly associated with years of experience as a dental hygienist, level of concern about COVID-19, and level of PPE supplies available (-values<0.01), but not type of dental practice (-value 0.1). As of October 2020, the estimated prevalence rate of dental hygienists in the US having had COVID-19 was low. There is a need for further support for dental hygienists' use of PPE and mental health.
在整个 COVID-19 大流行期间，医疗保健专业人员一直在努力提供适当的预防和治疗措施，同时采取预防措施将疾病传播的风险降到最低。本研究的目的是估计美国牙科保健员中 COVID-19 的患病率，描述感染预防和控制程序以及心理健康方面的任何相关趋势。美国注册的牙科保健员（RDH）被邀请参加一项 30 个问题的网络调查。COVID-19 感染项目包括可能和确诊的结果、过去一个月中经历的 COVID-19 相关症状以及对 COVID-19 向患者和自身传播的担忧程度。经过验证的患者健康问卷 4 筛查了受访者是否存在抑郁或焦虑。评估了在治疗患者时使用的个人防护设备 (PPE)。研究方案和调查得到了美国牙科协会 IRB 的批准，并在 clinicaltrials.gov 上注册（NCT04542915）。Kruskal-Wallis 和 X 检验用于检验 PPE 使用、PPE 供应、心理健康症状和对 COVID-19 传播的担忧之间的关联。截至 2020 年 10 月 8 日，来自美国 50 个州和波多黎各的共有 4776 名牙科保健员参加了这项研究。受访者报告说焦虑和抑郁症状加重。在受访者中，3.1%（n=149）曾经检测出 COVID-19 阳性或被诊断出 COVID-19。大多数（99.1%；n=3328）从事牙科保健工作的受访者报告说，他们的主要牙科诊所已经加强了感染预防或控制措施以应对大流行。PPE 的使用与作为牙科保健员的工作年限、对 COVID-19 的关注程度以及可用的 PPE 供应水平显著相关（-值<0.01），但与牙科实践类型无关（-值 0.1）。截至 2020 年 10 月，美国牙科保健员 COVID-19 的估计患病率较低。需要进一步支持牙科保健员使用 PPE 和心理健康。
