A systematic review of dentists' psychological wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic

Lefkowitz, Brett; Houdmont, Jonathan; Knight, Alec

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic presented significant challenges to healthcare workers worldwide, including the effect on the psychological wellbeing of dentists.

Aims: To evaluate the impact of the early phases of the pandemic on the psychological health, long-term wellbeing and clinical service provision of dentists, as well as the identification of the key risk and protective factors for adverse mental health outcomes (MHOs) in this group.

Methods: A systematic review of cross-sectional studies (n = 53) from public and private dentistry sectors was employed to delineate the risk and protective factors for adverse MHOs.

Results: Self-reports from these studies (1 December 2019 to 31 December 2021), involving 45,671 dentists worldwide were analysed. Study findings were classified according to their psychological impact (as risk or protective factors), categorised as 'operational' or 'organisational' and subdivided into 'psychosocial', 'occupational', 'sociodemographic' and 'environmental' elements. A GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations) certainty of evidence score was calculated for all the identified factors.

Conclusions: This review confirmed the negative impact of the pandemic on the MHOs of dentists worldwide. Pivotal risk factors included fear of infection, transmission to families, lack of personal protective equipment and possible direct contact with infected patients. Enhanced infection control protocols, individual resilience and organisational support were identified as important protective factors.

Citation

Lefkowitz, B., Houdmont, J., & Knight, A. (2023). A systematic review of dentists' psychological wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic. British Dental Journal, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-023-6232-8

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 3, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Sep 4, 2023
• Publication Date: Sep 4, 2023
• Deposit Date: Nov 3, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 6, 2023
• Journal: British Dental Journal
• Print ISSN: 0007-0610
• Electronic ISSN: 1476-5373
• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-023-6232-8
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/25094070
• Publisher URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41415-023-6232-8
• Additional Information: Received: 20 January 2023; Revised: 14 April 2023; Accepted: 3 May 2023; First Online: 4 September 2023; : The authors declare no conflicts of interest.; : Relevant ethical standards and current best practice have been adhered to at all times. We approached the King's College London Research Ethics Committee for advice as to whether ethical clearance was required for this study. We were advised that formal research ethical clearance was not required as the study solely made use of data that were available in the public domain.; : The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article (and/or) its supplementary materials.