Psychological consequences of lockdown on dental professionals during the early phase of the COVID‑19 pandemic
نویسندگان
1 Department of Psychiatric Social Work, Ranchi Institute of Neuropsychiatry and Allied Sciences, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India
2 Department of Psychiatric Social Work, Ranchi Institute of Neuropsychiatry and Allied Sciences, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India
3 Department of Psychiatric Social Work, Ranchi Institute of Neuropsychiatry and Allied Sciences, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India
4 Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Buddha Institute of Dental Sciences and Hospital, Patna, Bihar, India
5 Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Rama Dental College Hospital and Research Centre, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India
6
doi
چکیده
BACKGROUND: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, the virus that causes COVID‑19,mainly spreads through respiratory droplets. The dental profession is particularly at risk. Routinedental care was suspended after the announcement of the first lockdown in India. This makes thegroup vulnerable to psychosocial consequences. The present study aims to evaluate the psychosocialissues among dental professionals during COVID‑19 pandemic.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Across‑sectional study was conducted among 627 dental professionalsof India, using online Google Forms from April 23, 2020, through April 30, 2020. Participants wereevaluated using self‑constructed and self‑administered personal and professional hardship and fearchecklist specifically developed for this study. The 9‑item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ‑9)Depression Scale and 7‑item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale and PHQ‑15 were used to assessthe depression, anxiety, and somatic symptoms.RESULTS: Fear had a remarkable impact on 80.7% of responders. Among the participants, 40.5%,24.5%, and 30.6% reported symptoms of depression, anxiety, and somatic symptoms, respectively.Somatic symptoms were significantly associated with gender (P = 0.000). Work setting was significantlyassociated with depression (P = 0.011) and anxiety symptoms (P = 0.001). Concern, worry, and feardue to COVID‑19 were significantly associated with depression (P = 0.000), anxiety (P = 0.033), andsomatic symptoms (P = 0.009). There was a positive correlation between depression and anxietysymptoms (P = 0.01) and between age and somatic symptoms (P = 0.5).CONCLUSIONS: This group reported a high level of depression, anxiety, and somatic symptoms.Female dental professionals and private practitioners had more depression, anxiety, and somaticsymptoms. Immediate and special intervention is needed for this group. Further exploration into thenature and its effects of the psychological symptoms may be required.
