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Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.20471/dec.2021.57.02.06

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

Farooq Ahmad Chaudhary orcid id orcid.org/0000-0002-1748-0413 ; School of Dentistry, Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University, Islamabad, Pakistan
Basaruddin Ahmad orcid id orcid.org/0000-0003-3088-0558 ; School of Dental Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Malaysia
Madiha Gul ; Dental College, HITEC Institute of Medical Sciences, Taxila, Pakistan
Aamir Rafiq ; Dental College, HITEC Institute of Medical Sciences, Taxila, Pakistan
Danial Qasim Butt ; Dental College, HITEC Institute of Medical Sciences, Taxila, Pakistan
Misbah Rehman ; Islamic International Dental College, Riphah international university, Islamabad, Pakistan
Paras Ahmad ; School of Dental Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Malaysia


Full text: english pdf 359 Kb

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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.

Keywords

anxiety; COVID-19; oral health care worker; psychological impact; willingness

Hrčak ID:

257565

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/257565

Publication date:

1.6.2021.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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