One year of COVID-19 in dental health services in Norway: psychological impact, risk perceptions and vaccination status
Abstract Background Increased psychological pressure on oral healthcare professionals (OHP) due to COVID-19 has been shown, yet little is known about the long-term psychological impacts. We aimed to study the psychological impact of COVID-19 and associated factors including perceived risk and prepar...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-09-01
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| Series: | BMC Health Services Research |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-09981-9 |
| _version_ | 1797577238530490368 |
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| author | M. Shabestari V. E. Ansteinsson E. A. S. Hovden L. Stangvaltaite-Mouhat I. Mdala R. Skudutyte-Rysstad M. M. Uhlen-Strand |
| author_facet | M. Shabestari V. E. Ansteinsson E. A. S. Hovden L. Stangvaltaite-Mouhat I. Mdala R. Skudutyte-Rysstad M. M. Uhlen-Strand |
| author_sort | M. Shabestari |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Increased psychological pressure on oral healthcare professionals (OHP) due to COVID-19 has been shown, yet little is known about the long-term psychological impacts. We aimed to study the psychological impact of COVID-19 and associated factors including perceived risk and preparedness and vaccination status among OHP in the first year after the lockdown period in Norway. Methods A structured questionnaire sent electronically to dentists, dental hygienists and dental assistants inquired experiences and perceptions during the second year following the outbreak in Norway. The questionnaire comprised a COVID-19 fear scale and questions about risk perception, preparedness and vaccination status. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) were used to assess psychological impact, perception of risk and preparedness according to vaccination status of the respondents. Results The majority of the 708 respondents were female (92.8%), had ten or more years of work experience (67.1%), and worked in public dental clinics (95.9%). Fears and concerns related to COVID-19 were common, 72.6% feared getting infected and 85.4% feared infecting others. Of the 642 respondents who agreed that their workplaces handled the situation well, 55.6% were fully vaccinated. Three factors were retrieved from EFA: Insecurity, Instability and Infection. SEM showed that females were more concerned with Infection, and respondents with long clinical experience were less likely to express fear about Instability. Fully vaccinated individuals felt more insecure about becoming infected, and those agreeing that their workplaces handled the current situation well were concerned with Insecurity. Conclusions Despite widespread perception of adequate preparedness and high vaccine coverage, a considerable psychological impact and high levels of fear of COVID-19 were observed among the majority of OHP. Fully vaccinated individuals had a larger psychological burden than not fully vaccinated and those with unknown vaccination status. These findings can inform means and interventions to reduce negative impacts of fear in populations with a high psychological burden. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:05:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-616623d2fb2b4c4aa84eca536c227d19 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6963 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:05:24Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Health Services Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-616623d2fb2b4c4aa84eca536c227d192023-11-19T12:48:16ZengBMCBMC Health Services Research1472-69632023-09-012311910.1186/s12913-023-09981-9One year of COVID-19 in dental health services in Norway: psychological impact, risk perceptions and vaccination statusM. Shabestari0V. E. Ansteinsson1E. A. S. Hovden2L. Stangvaltaite-Mouhat3I. Mdala4R. Skudutyte-Rysstad5M. M. Uhlen-Strand6Oral Health Centre of Expertise in Eastern Norway (OHCE-E)Oral Health Centre of Expertise in Eastern Norway (OHCE-E)Oral Health Centre of Expertise in Eastern Norway (OHCE-E)Oral Health Centre of Expertise in Eastern Norway (OHCE-E)Oral Health Centre of Expertise in Eastern Norway (OHCE-E)Oral Health Centre of Expertise in Eastern Norway (OHCE-E)Oral Health Centre of Expertise in Eastern Norway (OHCE-E)Abstract Background Increased psychological pressure on oral healthcare professionals (OHP) due to COVID-19 has been shown, yet little is known about the long-term psychological impacts. We aimed to study the psychological impact of COVID-19 and associated factors including perceived risk and preparedness and vaccination status among OHP in the first year after the lockdown period in Norway. Methods A structured questionnaire sent electronically to dentists, dental hygienists and dental assistants inquired experiences and perceptions during the second year following the outbreak in Norway. The questionnaire comprised a COVID-19 fear scale and questions about risk perception, preparedness and vaccination status. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) were used to assess psychological impact, perception of risk and preparedness according to vaccination status of the respondents. Results The majority of the 708 respondents were female (92.8%), had ten or more years of work experience (67.1%), and worked in public dental clinics (95.9%). Fears and concerns related to COVID-19 were common, 72.6% feared getting infected and 85.4% feared infecting others. Of the 642 respondents who agreed that their workplaces handled the situation well, 55.6% were fully vaccinated. Three factors were retrieved from EFA: Insecurity, Instability and Infection. SEM showed that females were more concerned with Infection, and respondents with long clinical experience were less likely to express fear about Instability. Fully vaccinated individuals felt more insecure about becoming infected, and those agreeing that their workplaces handled the current situation well were concerned with Insecurity. Conclusions Despite widespread perception of adequate preparedness and high vaccine coverage, a considerable psychological impact and high levels of fear of COVID-19 were observed among the majority of OHP. Fully vaccinated individuals had a larger psychological burden than not fully vaccinated and those with unknown vaccination status. These findings can inform means and interventions to reduce negative impacts of fear in populations with a high psychological burden.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-09981-9Psychological impactFear of COVID-19SARS-CoV-2DentistryDental public healthVaccination |
| spellingShingle | M. Shabestari V. E. Ansteinsson E. A. S. Hovden L. Stangvaltaite-Mouhat I. Mdala R. Skudutyte-Rysstad M. M. Uhlen-Strand One year of COVID-19 in dental health services in Norway: psychological impact, risk perceptions and vaccination status BMC Health Services Research Psychological impact Fear of COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 Dentistry Dental public health Vaccination |
| title | One year of COVID-19 in dental health services in Norway: psychological impact, risk perceptions and vaccination status |
| title_full | One year of COVID-19 in dental health services in Norway: psychological impact, risk perceptions and vaccination status |
| title_fullStr | One year of COVID-19 in dental health services in Norway: psychological impact, risk perceptions and vaccination status |
| title_full_unstemmed | One year of COVID-19 in dental health services in Norway: psychological impact, risk perceptions and vaccination status |
| title_short | One year of COVID-19 in dental health services in Norway: psychological impact, risk perceptions and vaccination status |
| title_sort | one year of covid 19 in dental health services in norway psychological impact risk perceptions and vaccination status |
| topic | Psychological impact Fear of COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 Dentistry Dental public health Vaccination |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-09981-9 |
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