Perceptions and coping strategies of dental hygienists practicing during the COVID-19 pandemic
2022-02
Loading...
View/Download File
Persistent link to this item
Statistics
View StatisticsJournal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Title
Perceptions and coping strategies of dental hygienists practicing during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors
Published Date
2022-02
Publisher
Type
Thesis or Dissertation
Abstract
Purpose: This study investigates perceptions and coping strategies used by dental hygienists during the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic, March 1, 2020 until present. The Transactional Theory of Stress and Coping was used as the framework for this study. Methods: An electronic questionnaire (QualtricsTM) with questions in three domains: demographics, perceptions, and coping strategies, was emailed to dental hygienists in five Midwest states, summer of 2021. Participants were asked to indicate perceptions of and coping strategies used, while practicing during the COVID-19 pandemic since March 1, 2020. Bivariate comparisons between respondent demographics and survey responses regarding coping, risks, and strategies were computed using Fisher’s Exact Test. Survey responses were both analyzed as the original 5-point Likert scale and a collapsed 3-point Likert scale assessing overall agreement, disagreement, and neither agreement nor disagreement.
Results: Completed questionnaires totaled 167, with a 4.4% response rate. Majority of respondents were white females aged 56 or over, were employed full time, and had been in practice for ≥ 21 years in private general practices. Reduction in working hours was reported by 8.4% of respondents, and 7.2% reported leaving the profession. Perceptions of practicing during the pandemic were reported as experiencing increased risk of infection, a threat to the health of self, family/loved ones, and more physically demanding. The vaccine aided in reducing risk perceptions. Adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies were used while practicing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Conclusion: Dental hygienists perceive practicing dental hygiene during the COVID-19 pandemic as putting themselves and family/loved ones at risk of contracting the virus. Respondents reported dental hygiene practice is more physically demanding than before the COVID-19 pandemic and dental hygienists are more easily agitated and worried. Dental hygienists are finding ways of coping with these stresses by engaging in practice to improve mental health, using personal relationships for support, exercising, turning to spirituality, and using social media more than before the pandemic. Dental hygienists in this study reported reduced hours of work, leaving the profession, and considering a different profession, contributing to workforce attrition.
Description
University of Minnesota M.S. thesis. 2022. Major: Dentistry. Advisor: Cynthia Stull. 1 computer file (PDF); 96 pages.
Related to
Replaces
License
Series/Report Number
Funding information
Isbn identifier
Doi identifier
Previously Published Citation
Suggested citation
Christensen, Shelah. (2022). Perceptions and coping strategies of dental hygienists practicing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/241274.
Content distributed via the University Digital Conservancy may be subject to additional license and use restrictions applied by the depositor. By using these files, users agree to the Terms of Use. Materials in the UDC may contain content that is disturbing and/or harmful. For more information, please see our statement on harmful content in digital repositories.