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COVID‐19 pandemic and its impact on dental students: A multi‐institutional survey
Author(s) -
Klaassen Hannah,
Ashida Sato,
Comnick Carissa L.,
Xie Xian Jin,
Smith Becky M.,
Tabrizi Maryam,
Arsenault Karin,
Capin Oriana R.,
Scully Allison C.,
da Mata Cristiane,
Soto Annetty P.,
Dias Ribeiro Ana Paula,
Prince David,
Christensen Angela,
GinerTarrida Lluís,
Satorres Nieto Marta,
León Soraya,
GambettaTessini Karla,
Santos Mateus B. F.,
Dias da Silva Marco Antonio,
Pereira Andresa C.,
Dias do Carmo Elaine,
Aurora Stabile Gonnelli Fernanda,
Carvalho Fabíola G.,
Collares Kaue,
Bervian Juliane,
SarkisOnofre Rafael,
Jerfeson dos Santos Gonçalves Francisco,
BuenoSilva Bruno,
Estela Haddad Ana,
Gurgel Bruno César de Vasconcelos,
Alves Polliana M.,
Shigli Kamal,
Nayak Sushma S.,
Nayak Prajna P.,
Murugaboopathy Vikneshan,
Savitha PN,
Murthy Varsha,
Deshpande Saee,
Marchini Leonardo
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of dental education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.53
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1930-7837
pISSN - 0022-0337
DOI - 10.1002/jdd.12597
Subject(s) - perceived stress scale , stressor , coursework , pandemic , psychology , coping (psychology) , feeling , covid-19 , higher education , demographics , medical education , clinical psychology , gerontology , stress (linguistics) , medicine , social psychology , demography , political science , philosophy , linguistics , disease , pathology , sociology , infectious disease (medical specialty) , law
Purpose/objectives To investigate dental students’ perceptions and concerns regarding the COVID‐19 pandemic, their coping strategies and support resources, and their perceived stress levels. Methods A customized 19‐item survey and the perceived stress scale (PSS) were applied to undergraduate dental students from the US, Spain, Ireland, Chile, India, and Brazil between April 10 and July 5, 2020. Linear modeling and mediation analysis were used to explore the relationships among demographics, stressors, coping mechanisms, social support, and stress Results A total of 4475 students responded to the survey. The majority (72.4%) were women, and 52.3% had no COVID‐19 training at the time of the survey. The students reported that they had to accommodate to changes in patient care (96.6%) and didactic learning (95.2%) activities, while 88.5% of the respondents indicated at least one of their courses moved online. Transition to online courses went “smoothly with some troubles” for 51.8% of the respondents, and 48.3% perceived the faculty as prepared for the online transition; however, 45.9% reported feeling extremely concerned about the impact of COVID‐19 on their education. The average PSS score was 21.9 of 40 (moderate stress). Multivariate models were built for participants with full data ( n = 3899). Being male, having completed more dental coursework, and perceiving a smoother transition were associated with lower PSS scores; more concern about academic progress was associated with higher PSS. Faculty support mediated the relationship between a smoothness of transition and concern about academic progress and PSS scores Conclusion Stress caused by the pandemic may be alleviated by smoother transition and good faculty support.