Given that SARS-CoV-2 originated in China, it is unsurprising that the country's emergency dental care professionals have been subjected to a tremendous psychological toll since the virus's discovery.
A study of these employees was conducted in order to better understand how these events impacted them. The findings have proven the need for psychological support services during such trying times.
To carry out the study, which was published in the International Dental Journal, Chinese researchers devised a cross-sectional survey that was conducted online between April 3 and 10, 2020, using anonymised questionnaires. Participants were recruited from about 100 medical institutes throughout China with the help of the Chinese Stomatological Association's emergency committee, and 969 genuine answers were gathered.
Stress was by far the most often reported psychological problem, with 66.2 percent of respondents claiming to have suffered from it as a consequence of the epidemic. Depression was mentioned by 13.4% of respondents, while 8.5% claimed to experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of their job during this period.
Further examination of the gathered data revealed that pre-existing physical illness was linked to an increased incidence of sadness and anxiety. Furthermore, the authors claimed that having emotions of dread, helplessness, or panic as a consequence of the potential of acquiring COVID-19 resulted in statistically significant changes in the psychological outcomes of sadness, anxiety, perceived stress, and PTSD.
The authors said that this study fills a gap in the literature on the psychological responses of Chinese dental professionals during a viral epidemic and provides the groundwork for establishing a causal connection between infectious illnesses and the frequency of mental morbidity.
In addition, it contributes to the improvement of psychological support programs for dental care professionals and recommends a focus on preparation and treatments to assist psychological recovery after potential exposure to sources of infection.
