Fear of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Among Dentists

COVID-19 Fear Among Dentists

Authors

  • Nida Talpur PhD Scholar, Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Karachi, Pakistan
  • Farwa Shah Senior Dental Surgeon, Services Hospital Hyderabad, Health Department Government of Sindh, Pakistan
  • Rehmatullah Kandhro Muhammad Dental College, Mirpurkkhas, Pakistan
  • Sara Jamil PhD Scholar, Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Karachi; Senior Registrar, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi, Pakistan
  • Samra Bokhari PhD Scholar, Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Karachi; Senior Registrar, National Institute of Child Health, Karachi, Pakistan
  • Muhammad Khalil Khan Professor, Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Karachi, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.61919/jhrr.v4i3.1572

Keywords:

COVID-19, fear among dentists, pandemic anxiety, dental practice, healthcare professionals, mental health, infection control.

Abstract

Background: The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) emerged in December 2019 and rapidly spread across the globe, leading to a pandemic declared by the World Health Organization by March 2020. Healthcare professionals, including dentists, were at increased risk due to close patient interactions, contributing to heightened fear and anxiety.
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the fear of COVID-19 among dentists practicing in Hyderabad and Jamshoro districts.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted via an online survey using Google Forms. The survey link was distributed to dentists in Hyderabad and Jamshoro through WhatsApp and email, using non-probability convenience sampling. The questionnaire consisted of demographic information and seven questions related to fear of COVID-19. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25, with frequencies, percentages, and Chi-square tests applied to assess the association between gender and fear.
Results: Among 195 respondents, 95.9% feared contracting COVID-19 from patients, while 93.9% were afraid of treating symptomatic patients. Additionally, 30.6% planned to stop their practice during the pandemic. Fear of transmitting the virus to family was reported by 98%, and 94.4% were afraid of severe illness.
Conclusion: A significant proportion of dentists reported fear and anxiety related to COVID-19, particularly among female practitioners, highlighting the need for mental health support.

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Published

2024-09-22

How to Cite

Nida Talpur, Farwa Shah, Rehmatullah Kandhro, Sara Jamil, Samra Bokhari, & Muhammad Khalil Khan. (2024). Fear of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Among Dentists: COVID-19 Fear Among Dentists. Journal of Health and Rehabilitation Research, 4(3), 1–4. https://doi.org/10.61919/jhrr.v4i3.1572

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 3 (2024): Volume 4, Issue 3 - July to September 2024

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2024 Nida Talpur, Farwa Shah, Rehmatullah Kandhro, Sara Jamil, Samra Bokhari, Muhammad Khalil Khan

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