The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the stress level of dentists

Abstract

Relevance. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly affected the stress levels of healthcare workers. Like some other medical specialties, dentists have the highest risk of infection due to close contact with the patient's oral cavity and aerosol-generating procedures.Purpose. The study aimed to study the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the stress level of dentists in Novosibirsk.Material and methods. The study involved 273 dentists of various specialties aged from 20 to 65 years. The study assessed the overall level of perceived stress, overstrain and counteraction to stress using the "Perceived stress scale" (PSS-10). The Peritraumatic Distress Inventory (PDI) evaluated the level of distress associated with the pandemic.Results. The overall level of perceived stress is sufficiently high in all groups; the indicators increase with age from 6.9% in the younger age group to 95.7% in the older one. Older dentists are aware of the higher risks of a severe course and consequences of the disease and fear for the lives of loved ones. In the middle and younger age groups, the level of distress associated with professional activities is within the normal range. The older age group showed a high peritraumatic distress level associated with practising medicine during the COVID-19 pandemic. Gender differences in the perceived stress and distress levels were not found.Conclusion. The COVID-19 pandemic caused an increase in the psychological stress level among dentists, especially among older age groups. The study allowed us to identify factors affecting stress levels, which must be considered when organizing effective psychological assistance to doctors during epidemics of infectious diseases and providing targeted help to those in need.