Delivery of Health Care by Spanish Dental Hygienists in Private and Public Dental Services during the COVID-19 De-Escalation Phase (June 2020): A Cross-Sectional Study

Antonio Javier Expósito-Delgado, Verónica Ausina-Márquez, María Victoria Mateos-Moreno, Elena Martínez-Sanz, María del Carmen Trullols-Casas, María Eulalia Llamas-Ortuño, José María Blanco-González, Teresa Almerich-Torres, Manuel Bravo and Yolanda Martínez-Beneyto
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Antonio Javier Expósito-Delgado: Servicio Andaluz de Salud, National Health Service, 23200 Jaén, Spain
Verónica Ausina-Márquez: Department of Paediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, European University of Valencia, 46001 Valencia, Spain
María Victoria Mateos-Moreno: Department of Dental Clinical Specialties, Faculty of Dentistry, University Complutense of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Elena Martínez-Sanz: Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University Complutense of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
María del Carmen Trullols-Casas: Servei Balear de Salut, National Health Service, 07005 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
María Eulalia Llamas-Ortuño: Servicio de Salud de Castilla la Mancha, National Health Service, 13700 Tomelloso, Spain
José María Blanco-González: Dirección General de Salud Pública, Servicio de Salud del Principado de Asturias, National Health Service, 33005 Oviedo, Spain
Teresa Almerich-Torres: Department of Preventive Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine-Dentistry, University of Valencia, 46001 Valencia, Spain
Manuel Bravo: Department of Preventive & Community Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Granada, 18001 Granada, Spain
Yolanda Martínez-Beneyto: Department of Preventive & Community Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine-Dentistry, University of Murcia, 30001 Murcia, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 16, 1-17

Abstract: Background: The first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain posed a major challenge for Spanish dental professionals. The objective of this work is to describe the dental hygienists’ work status and employment patterns during the de-escalation phase in order to analyse the standards of knowledge, compliance with official recommendations, and dental activities both in the public health service and in the private sector. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire was answered by Spanish dental hygienists via WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram. The questionnaire was piloted before it was distributed and carried out during June 2020. Results: Here, 517 dental hygienists were surveyed, of which 86.2% followed the official recommendations to avoid contagion and 63.8% agreed with the gradual return to work by limiting the use of aerosols. Private dental hygienists identified more with returning to work without restrictions (14.5%) versus those working for the public service (1.2%) ( p < 0.005). Conclusions: Dental hygienists’ return to work has involved different strategies, aimed at controlling infection and guaranteeing the safety of patients and the rest of the dental team. The availability of personal protective equipment, the adaptation of clinical infrastructure, and patient care management have differed between professionals working in the private and public sectors.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; health personnel; dental hygienists; surveys and questionnaires; dental care; infection control; personal protective equipment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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