Perceived Stress in Dentists and Dental Students of Latin America and the Caribbean during the Mandatory Social Isolation Measures for the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study

Roberto A. León-Manco, Andrés A. Agudelo-Suárez, Ana Armas-Vega, Márcia Cançado Figueiredo, Francisca Verdugo-Paiva, Yrma Santana-Pérez and Andrés Viteri-García
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Roberto A. León-Manco: Faculty of Dentistry, Cayetano Heredia Peruvian University, Lima 15102, Peru
Andrés A. Agudelo-Suárez: Faculty of Dentistry, University of Antioquia, Medellín 050010, Colombia
Ana Armas-Vega: Faculty of Dentistry, Central University of Ecuador, Quito 170102, Ecuador
Márcia Cançado Figueiredo: Faculty of Dentistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre 90035-003, Brazil
Francisca Verdugo-Paiva: UC Evidence Center, Cochrane Chile Associated Center, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 8331150, Chile
Yrma Santana-Pérez: Faculty of Dentistry, University of Zulia, Maracaibo 4011, Venezuela
Andrés Viteri-García: Epistemonikos Foundation, Santiago 7510321, Chile

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 11, 1-18

Abstract: This study aims to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically considering the mandatory social isolation measures implemented, on the perceived stress of a sample of dentists and dental students from Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as the associated sociodemographic and pandemic-related variables. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with a sample of 2036 dentists and dental students (1433 women). For the main outcome, the 14-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14) was used. The survey also questioned sociodemographic aspects, questions on the COVID-19 pandemic, health variables, and habits. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate analyses (linear regression) were applied to observe the factors associated with perceived stress. The PSS-14 mean score was 24.76 (±11.76). Hierarchical regression models showed significant variables associated with the PSS-14 scores: income level during mandatory social isolation, having older adults under care during mandatory social isolation, self-perceived level of concern regarding COVID-19, self-perceived health, Coffee consumption during mandatory social isolation. In general terms, the pandemic has influenced the personal, social, labor, and everyday life of dental staff and affected the mental health of this population specifically when perceived stress is considered. Public policies, strategies, and mental health surveillance systems are required for this population.

Keywords: stress; psychological; dentists; students; dental; COVID-19; health surveys (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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