Attitudes of Peruvian dentists toward absolute isolation. Design and validation of a scale in the time of COVID-19

Introduction: Rubber dam isolation is a dental procedu-re that ensures biosafety and the quality of restorative treatments;however, no appropriate tool is available to evaluate the topic in Peruvian reality. Objective: Design and validate a scale to evaluate the attitude of Peruvian dentists toward rubber dam isolation. Methods: An instrumental cross-sectional study was con-ducted. The scale was applied through a virtual questionnaire and then distributed on social networks to 279 dentists (143 women and 136 men) selected by intentional nonprobability sampling. Age ranged from 22 to 67 years. Results: Aiken’s V coefficient values were favorable for all items. Exploratory factor analysis showed the presence of a single factor. Confirmatory factor analysis suggested deletion of items 1 and 7. Reliability of the scale proved to be good. It was estimated with a Cronbach’s α coefficient of 0.71. Conclusions: The scale about attitudes of Peruvian dentists toward rubber dam isolation (Act-AA-Cov19) is a brief, valid and reliable measurement which may be used for research purposes. © 2022, Editorial Ciencias Medicas. All rights reserved.

Teaching stressors during the pandemic COVID-19 in Peruvian teachers: adaptation of a scale

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted traditional education, generating stressors in basic education teachers. Therefore, the objective of this study was to adapt and validate the scale of teaching stressors during the COVID-19 pandemic for Peruvian teachers. It corresponds to a cross-sectional instrumental design study, in which 364 teachers from the Regional Directorate of Education Puno (DRE), Peru, of both sexes (women=224;62%), between 28 and 60 years of age (M = 44, SD = 9.66) participated voluntarily. The instrument that was adapted was the scale of teaching stressors during the pandemic created for Argentine teachers, which was subjected to a process of cultural adaptation, expert judgment and pilot testing. To explore the internal structure, confirmatory factor analysis was applied. As results, all items received a favorable evaluation by the judges (Aiken's V >. 70);the CFA evidenced that the original model reports adequate fit indices (chi 2 = 613.911;df = 199, p = .000;CFI = .964;TLI = .958;RMSEA = .076 and SRMR < .05), and reliability was acceptable for all factors (omega > .75). In conclusion, the ED-Cov19 reports evidence of content-based validity, internal structure and reliability;therefore, it can be applied in research to assess teaching stressors in Peruvian basic education teachers.

EFFECT OF WORKLOAD AND STRESS ON THE PERCEPTION OF TELEWORK IN PERUVIAN TEACHERS: MEDIATING ROLE OF JOB SATISFACTION

Introduction: the teaching population suffers repercussions due to new educational demands in times of COVID-19. Objective: to examine the relationships between workload, perceived stress, perception of telework and job satisfaction in Peruvian teachers. Material and Methods: explanatory study, carried out on 400 basic education teachers in 6 Peruvian cities. The following scales were used to collect data: workload (ECT), perceived stress (EEP-10-C), job satisfaction (ESL) and perception of telework (Tele-Cov-19). Results: The SEM model presents acceptable goodness-of-fit indices (χ

Depression, anxiety and stress in Cuban dental students during the COVID-19 resurgence

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative impact on the mental health of students and is necessary to evaluate these psychological manifestations. Objective: To identify the levels of depression, anxiety and stress in Cuban Stomatology students during the outbreak of COVID-19. Methods: Observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study. The Depression, Anxiety and Stress scale, validated for the undergraduate of Dentistry in Cuba was used. The scale was available in a Google form. Facebook, Telegram and WhatsApp social networks were used to invite the students. Depression, anxiety and stress were categorized according to cut-off points and descriptive statistics were obtained. Results: Of the 329 surveyed from 16 universities, 74,16 % suffered from depression, anxiety 63,22 % and stress 68,69 %. In general, 55,62 % suffered from depression, anxiety and stress. Conclusions: Symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress were identified, being the severe categories the most prevalent in the students of Dentistry. © 2022, Editorial Ciencias Medicas. All rights reserved.

Factors associated to Peruvian dentists’ attitudes towards rubber dam isolation in COVID-19 times

Introduction: Rubber dam isolation is a dental technique that increases the probability of successful treatment, especially in this pandemic. Aim: To characterize the attitudes of Peruvian dentists towards rubber dam insolation in times of COVID-19 pandemic and to identify factors associated with them. Methods: Observational and cross-sectional study using analytical techniques, carried out through a virtual survey of dentists in Peru. The Act-AA-Cov19 scale was used, the score was divided into the upper tertile (those in agreement) versus the other scores (comparison category);association statistics were obtained. Results: Of the 279 dentists, the importance of rubber dam isolation and use of personal protective equipment was the most accepted (96 % always agreed and 4 % almost always). The need to update knowledge about rubber dam isolation was associated with a better attitude towards the procedure (PRc: 1,52;95 % CI: 1,18-1.95;p value = 0,001);while the result was the opposite in graduates from private universities (PRc: 0,79;95 % CI: 0,66-0,95;p value = 0,011). Conclusion: The most widely accepted premise is about the importance of rubber dam isolation and use of personal protective equipment, followed by the fact that a saliva/blood-free work area facilitates the procedure. © 2021, Editorial Ciencias Medicas. All rights reserved.

FINANCIAL STRESS AND FEAR OF COVID-19 AS PREDICTORS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS IN SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED PERUVIAN ENTREPRENEURS

Objective: To determine whether financial stress and fear of COVID-19 are predictors of psychological distress in small and medium Peruvian entrepreneurs. Material and methods: A cross-sectional, predictive study in which 305 Peruvian entrepreneurs from sectors such as education, transportation, infrastructure, commerce, food, automotive and tourism voluntarily participated. Data were collected through a scale of financial stress, a scale of fear of COVID-19 and a scale of psychological distress. Results: The results of the multiple regression analysis show an adequate model fit (F-test=168,842, p<0,001), where financial stress (β=0,48, p<0,01) and fear of COVID-19 (β=0,31, p<0,01), are variables that significantly predict psychological distress (adjusted R2=0,52). Conclusion: Financial stress and fear by COVID-19 are predictors of psychological distress in small and medium Peruvian entrepreneurs. © 2021, Accion Medica S.A.. All rights reserved.

Academic impact of the COVID-19 in Cuban dental students

Introduction: COVID-19 pandemic has impacted in different scopes of higher education, that is why is necessary to generate researches that contribute with evidences on this topic. Aim: To validate a scale for evaluating the Cuban dental students' perceptions on the possible academic impact of the COVID-19. Methods: Instrumental and cross-sectional study. Starting from a Spanish language instrument validated in Peruvian medical and other university students, the first step of the validation through the expert’s criteria was performed. After, a factorial exploratory analysis (FEA), by not pondered minima squares, was performed and the internal consistency was measured through Alpha of Cronbach. Results: 159 students were suitable for analysis;60.38 % were men and the mean age was 21.86 years. All items were evaluated in a favorable way by the expert’s criteria. From the initial scale, the preliminary analysis suggested to eliminate the item 6. The relevance of the FEA was justified with the KMO index (0.801) and Bartlett's test (344.8;gl=15;p=0.000) being acceptable and significant. An Alpha of Cronbach's coefficient of 0.915 with a 95% confidence interval of 0.90-0.91 was obtained;indicating that the consistency of the instrument is good. Conclusions: A single factor scale measuring Cuban dental students' perception of the possible academic impact of the COVID-19 was validated. © 2021, Editorial Ciencias Medicas. All rights reserved.

Psychometric evidence of a scale measuring concern over contagion with COVID-19 among peruvian interns

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has created concern over contagion, particularly among front-line healthcare workers. Objective: Analyze the evidence of content validity, internal structure and reliability of a scale measuring concern over contagion with COVID-19 among Peruvian interns. Methods: An instrumental cross-sectional study was conducted. The scale was applied via a virtual questionnaire and then distributed over the social networks to 275 interns (58 male and 217 female) selected by intentional nonprobability sampling whose age ranged from 19 to 40 years. Results: Aiken's V coefficient values were favorable for all items. Exploratory factor analysis showed the presence of a single factor. Confirmatory factor analysis suggested deletion of items 1 and 7. Reliability of the scale proved to be good. It was estimated with a Cronbach's α coefficient of 0.872. Conclusions: The scale measuring concern over contagion with COVID-19 among Peruvian interns is brief, valid and reliable, and may be used for research and professional role purposes. © 2021, Editorial Ciencias Medicas. All rights reserved.