Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Orthodontics and Public Health, Bauru Dental School, University of São Paulo, Bauru 17012-901, São Paulo, Brazil.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Aug 25;19(17):10576. doi: 10.3390/ijerph191710576.
Dentists are at high risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection due to their close proximity to patients. Thus, the fear of contamination or spreading the virus to family members, coupled with financial need, can lead professionals to experience significant overload and psychological suffering. We investigated the perceptions of dental professionals in the public and private sectors regarding fear and anxiety related to patient care and the risk of infection in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the previous literature, we interviewed 302 dentists online using sociodemographic and professional questions. Among the professionals evaluated, 80.8% had suspended their activities for some time, 74.8% were afraid of infection at work, 86.1% feared transmitting the virus to their families, 30.1% had already been infected, 54% felt afraid when they heard the news of death caused by SARS-CoV-2, and 63.9% reported having the protective knowledge necessary to avoid infection. Dentists who worked only in the public sector and those who worked in both sectors were more afraid of being infected than professionals who worked only in private offices. Our results highlight the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on emotional health in dentists. This study highlights the need for more support in the psychosocial field to enable dentists to overcome difficulties and maintain the provision of good dental care for the population. Continuing education should update professions with the requisite scientific and clinical knowledge to face the pandemic and achieve greater reflection on their role within this new context to improve their professional and emotional performance.
牙医由于与患者近距离接触，因此感染 SARS-CoV-2 的风险很高。因此，对污染的恐惧或病毒传播给家庭成员的恐惧，加上经济需求，可能导致专业人员承受巨大的压力和心理痛苦。我们调查了公共和私营部门牙科专业人员对与患者护理相关的恐惧和焦虑以及在 COVID-19 大流行面前感染风险的看法。根据之前的文献，我们使用社会人口统计学和专业问题对 302 名在线牙医进行了访谈。在所评估的专业人员中，80.8%暂时停止了他们的活动，74.8%担心在工作中感染，86.1%担心将病毒传染给家人，30.1%已经被感染，54%听到 SARS-CoV-2 导致死亡的消息时感到害怕，63.9%表示他们具备避免感染的必要保护知识。仅在公共部门工作的牙医和同时在公共和私营部门工作的牙医比仅在私人诊所工作的牙医更担心感染。我们的研究结果强调了 COVID-19 大流行对牙医情绪健康的影响。本研究强调了需要在社会心理领域提供更多支持，以使牙医克服困难并继续为民众提供良好的牙科护理。继续教育应提供必要的科学和临床知识，使专业人员能够应对大流行，并在这一新背景下对其角色进行更深入的反思，以提高其专业和情绪表现。
