Assessment of Psychosocial Factors in Brazilian Dentists Facing Risk of Sars-CoV-2 Infection in the Public and Private Sectors

Bibliographic Data

ID15499628
AuthorsRogério Bertevello (Universidade de São Paulo), Ida Regina Tomaz Carvalho da Silva Capela (0000-0002-8642-1425, Universidade de São Paulo), Marcelo Salmazo Castro (0000-0002-9601-9069, Universidade de São Paulo), Ana Virgínia Santana Sampaio Castilho (0000-0003-0674-8522, Universidade de São Paulo), Ana Jéssica Pinto (0000-0002-1363-7233, Universidade de São Paulo), Gabriela de Figueiredo Meira (0000-0002-8285-8769, Universidade de São Paulo, corresponding author), Sílvia Helena De Carvalho Sales Peres (0000-0003-3811-7899, Universidade de São Paulo, corresponding author)
Year2022
Volume19
Issue17
Pages10576-10576
Publication date2022-08-25
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph191710576
PMID36078290
OpenAlexW4293103764
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited10

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

Anxiety · Context (archaeology · Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 · Disease · Environmental health · Face shield · Family medicine · Health care · Pandemic · Perception · Personal protective equipment · Political science · Population · Private sector · Psychiatry · Psychosocial · Public health · Risk of infection · Risk perception · COVID-19 and Mental Health · Dental Research and COVID-19 · Healthcare professionals’ stress and burnout · Medicine · Nursing · Psychology

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