IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v18y2021i15p8108-d605632.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Dental Nurses’ Mental Health in Germany: A Nationwide Survey during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Author

Listed:
  • Mohamed Mekhemar

    (Clinic for Conservative Dentistry and Periodontology, School of Dental Medicine, Kiel University, Arnold-Heller-Str. 3, Haus B, 24105 Kiel, Germany)

  • Sameh Attia

    (Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Klinik Str. 33, 35392 Giessen, Germany)

  • Christof Dörfer

    (Clinic for Conservative Dentistry and Periodontology, School of Dental Medicine, Kiel University, Arnold-Heller-Str. 3, Haus B, 24105 Kiel, Germany)

  • Jonas Conrad

    (Clinic for Conservative Dentistry and Periodontology, School of Dental Medicine, Kiel University, Arnold-Heller-Str. 3, Haus B, 24105 Kiel, Germany)

Abstract

Several studies have found a rise in the rate of psychological discomfort among healthcare personnel since the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. In this study, we analyzed the relationship between psychological variables of anxiety, depression, stress, avoidance, intrusion and hyperarousal and several factors among German dental nurses. For this poll, dental nurses were asked nationwide to take part via an online-based survey from July 2020 to January 2021. This survey gathered data on demographics, as well as psychological assessments through the Impact of Events Scale-Revised (IES-R) instrument, and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21). The correlations between DASS-21/IES-R ratings and sociodemographic data were investigated using univariate analyses (Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney U tests). Single comparisons were performed using the Dunn–Bonferroni post hoc test if a relevant test result was significant followed by multiple linear regressions. Furthermore, 252 dental nurses took part in the study and showed overall normal or mild results of all psychological variables. Having immune-deficiency or chronic diseases, employment at a dental practice, being married, having no children and seeing the pandemic as a financial threat were presented as significant risk factors ( p ≤ 0.05) with higher DASS-21 and IES-R scores. These results emphasize the aspects that must be considered to safeguard German dental nurses’ mental wellbeing during the crisis.

Suggested Citation

  • Mohamed Mekhemar & Sameh Attia & Christof Dörfer & Jonas Conrad, 2021. "Dental Nurses’ Mental Health in Germany: A Nationwide Survey during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-18, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:15:p:8108-:d:605632
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/15/8108/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/15/8108/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Alberto De Stefani & Giovanni Bruno & Sabrina Mutinelli & Antonio Gracco, 2020. "COVID-19 Outbreak Perception in Italian Dentists," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-7, May.
    2. Cuiyan Wang & Riyu Pan & Xiaoyang Wan & Yilin Tan & Linkang Xu & Cyrus S. Ho & Roger C. Ho, 2020. "Immediate Psychological Responses and Associated Factors during the Initial Stage of the 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Epidemic among the General Population in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-25, March.
    3. Ugo Consolo & Pierantonio Bellini & Davide Bencivenni & Cristina Iani & Vittorio Checchi, 2020. "Epidemiological Aspects and Psychological Reactions to COVID-19 of Dental Practitioners in the Northern Italy Districts of Modena and Reggio Emilia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-17, May.
    4. Forman, Rebecca & Atun, Rifat & McKee, Martin & Mossialos, Elias, 2020. "12 Lessons learned from the management of the coronavirus pandemic," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 124(6), pages 577-580.
    5. Stefano Martina & Alessandra Amato & Roberto Rongo & Mario Caggiano & Massimo Amato, 2020. "The Perception of COVID-19 among Italian Dentists: An Orthodontic Point of View," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-10, June.
    6. Muhammad Adeel Ahmed & Rizwan Jouhar & Naseer Ahmed & Samira Adnan & Marziya Aftab & Muhammad Sohail Zafar & Zohaib Khurshid, 2020. "Fear and Practice Modifications among Dentists to Combat Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Outbreak," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-11, April.
    7. Jonas Conrad & Jan Retelsdorf & Sameh Attia & Christof Dörfer & Mohamed Mekhemar, 2020. "German Dentists’ Preferences for the Treatment of Apical Periodontitis: A Cross-Sectional Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(20), pages 1-14, October.
    8. Albert Nienhaus & Rozita Hod, 2020. "COVID-19 among Health Workers in Germany and Malaysia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-10, July.
    9. Mohamed Mekhemar & Jonas Conrad & Sameh Attia & Christof Dörfer, 2020. "Oral Health Attitudes among Preclinical and Clinical Dental Students in Germany," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-11, June.
    10. Roberta Gasparro & Cristiano Scandurra & Nelson Mauro Maldonato & Pasquale Dolce & Vincenzo Bochicchio & Alessandra Valletta & Gilberto Sammartino & Pasquale Sammartino & Mauro Mariniello & Alessandro, 2020. "Perceived Job Insecurity and Depressive Symptoms among Italian Dentists: The Moderating Role of Fear of COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-12, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Tatiana Sella Tunis & Tal Ratson & Shlomo Matalon & Michael Abba & Alex Abramson & Moshe Davidovitch & Nir Shpack, 2022. "The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Israeli Orthodontic Practice: A Clinic’s Activity and Patients’ Attitudes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-14, February.
    2. Juan Carlos De Haro & Eva María Rosel & Inmaculada Salcedo-Bellido & Ester Leno-Durán & Pilar Requena & Rocío Barrios-Rodríguez, 2022. "Psychological Impact of COVID-19 in the Setting of Dentistry: A Review Article," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-37, December.
    3. Ancuta Goriuc & Darius Sandu & Monica Tatarciuc & Ionut Luchian, 2022. "The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Dentistry and Dental Education: A Narrative Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-11, February.
    4. María Sofía Rey-Martínez & María Helena Rey-Martínez & Natalia Martínez-Rodríguez & Cristina Meniz-García & José María Suárez-Quintanilla, 2023. "Influence of the Sanitary, Economic, and Social Crisis of COVID-19 on the Emotional State of Dentistry in Galicia (Spain)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-12, February.
    5. Tiffany Patterson-Norrie & Ariana Kong & Albert Yaacoub & Ravi Srinivas & Shwetha G. Kezhekkekara & Ajesh George, 2024. "Provision of Public Dental Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Experiences of Dental Staff in Greater Western Sydney, Australia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(11), pages 1-16, October.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Juan Carlos De Haro & Eva María Rosel & Inmaculada Salcedo-Bellido & Ester Leno-Durán & Pilar Requena & Rocío Barrios-Rodríguez, 2022. "Psychological Impact of COVID-19 in the Setting of Dentistry: A Review Article," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-37, December.
    2. María Sofía Rey-Martínez & María Helena Rey-Martínez & Natalia Martínez-Rodríguez & Cristina Meniz-García & José María Suárez-Quintanilla, 2023. "Influence of the Sanitary, Economic, and Social Crisis of COVID-19 on the Emotional State of Dentistry in Galicia (Spain)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-12, February.
    3. Luca Aquilanti & Silvia Gallegati & Valerio Temperini & Luigi Ferrante & Edlira Skrami & Maurizio Procaccini & Giorgio Rappelli, 2020. "Italian Response to Coronavirus Pandemic in Dental Care Access: The DeCADE Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-12, September.
    4. Monika Tysiąc-Miśta & Arkadiusz Dziedzic, 2020. "The Attitudes and Professional Approaches of Dental Practitioners during the COVID-19 Outbreak in Poland: A Cross-Sectional Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-17, June.
    5. Lina Stangvaltaite-Mouhat & Marte-Mari Uhlen & Rasa Skudutyte-Rysstad & Ewa Alicja Szyszko Hovden & Maziar Shabestari & Vibeke Elise Ansteinsson, 2020. "Dental Health Services Response to COVID-19 in Norway," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-17, August.
    6. Maria Sarapultseva & Alena Zolotareva & Igor Kritsky & Natal’ya Nasretdinova & Alexey Sarapultsev, 2021. "Psychological Distress and Post-Traumatic Symptomatology among Dental Healthcare Workers in Russia: Results of a Pilot Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-12, January.
    7. Bruna Sinjari & Imena Rexhepi & Manlio Santilli & Gianmaria D′Addazio & Piero Chiacchiaretta & Piero Di Carlo & Sergio Caputi, 2020. "The Impact of COVID-19 Related Lockdown on Dental Practice in Central Italy—Outcomes of A Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-14, August.
    8. Cristine Maria Warmling & Rubens Spin-Neto & Luciana Zambillo Palma & Manoelito Ferreira Silva-Junior & Renata Goulart Castro & Mirelle Finkler & Márcia Helena Baldani & Fernando Valentim Bitencourt, 2023. "Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Oral Health Workforce: A Multicenter Study from the Southern Region of Brazil," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-12, January.
    9. Mohamed Mekhemar & Kamal Ebeid & Sameh Attia & Christof Dörfer & Jonas Conrad, 2020. "Oral Health Attitudes among Preclinical and Clinical Dental Students: A Pilot Study and Self-Assessment in an Egyptian State-Funded University," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(1), pages 1-14, December.
    10. Carlos Ariel Rodrigues de Araujo & Danielle Viana Ribeiro & Danielle Boina de Oliveira & Wander Barbieri & Gabriela Silva de Castilho & Manuel Jimenez & Tamara Kerber Tedesco & Maisa Camillo Jordão & , 2022. "Psychological Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Dentists in Latin America’s Epicenter: São Paulo, Brazil," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-10, November.
    11. Fatih Karayürek & Ahmet Taylan Çebi & Aydın Gülses & Mustafa Ayna, 2021. "The Impact of COVID-19 Vaccination on Anxiety Levels of Turkish Dental Professionals and Their Attitude in Clinical Care: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-14, October.
    12. Sreekanth Kumar Mallineni & Sivakumar Nuvvula & Jaya Chandra Bhumireddy & Ahmad Faisal Ismail & Priya Verma & Rishitha Sajja & Abdullah Alassaf & Basim Almulhim & Sara Alghamdi & Anupam Saha & Virinde, 2021. "Knowledge and Perceptions Regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19) among Pediatric Dentists during Lockdown Period," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-13, December.
    13. Junjian Gu, 2020. "Risk Assessment on Continued Public Health Threats: Evidence from China’s Stock Market," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(20), pages 1-30, October.
    14. Silvano Gallus & Luca Paroni & Dino Re & Riccardo Aiuto & Davide Maria Battaglia & Rolando Crippa & Nicolò Carugo & Matteo Beretta & Lorenzo Balsano & Luigi Paglia, 2021. "SARS-CoV-2 Infection among the Dental Staff from Lombardy Region, Italy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-10, April.
    15. Anna Turska-Szybka & Maria Prokopczyk & Piotr Winkielman & Dorota Olczak-Kowalczyk, 2021. "Knowledge and Attitude of Polish Dental Healthcare Professionals during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-17, November.
    16. Anne Müller & Florentina Sophie Melzow & Gerd Göstemeyer & Sebastian Paris & Falk Schwendicke, 2021. "Implementation of COVID-19 Infection Control Measures by German Dentists: A Qualitative Study to Identify Enablers and Barriers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-22, May.
    17. Thomas Gerhard Wolf & Leonardo de Col & Seyed Ahmad Banihashem Rad & Paolo Castiglia & Antonella Arghittu & Mina Cannavale & Guglielmo Campus, 2022. "How the COVID-19 Pandemic Affects Risk Awareness in Dentists: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-14, April.
    18. 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-Gonzá, 2021. "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," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-17, August.
    19. Hyosun Jung & Yu Hyun Hwang & Yoon Sik Jung & Hye Hyun Yoon, 2024. "The Generation-Based Effects of the Fear of COVID-19 on Deluxe Hotel Employees’ Responses," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-17, November.
    20. Ondine Lucaciu & Antonia Boca & Anca Stefania Mesaros & Nausica Petrescu & Ovidiu Aghiorghiesei & Ioana Codruta Mirica & Ioan Hosu & Gabriel Armencea & Simion Bran & Cristian Mihail Dinu, 2021. "Assessing SARS-CoV-2 Infection Rate among Romanian Dental Practitioners," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-14, May.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:15:p:8108-:d:605632. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.