Response to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic of dental hygienists in South Korea-Part III: COVID-19 vaccination intentions.

OBJECTIVES: This cross-sectional study was to determine the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination intention of clinical dental hygienists in South Korea and the factors that influence vaccination intention. METHODS: COVID-19 vaccination intention of the 500 participants was confirmed through a survey including the following options: 'I will vaccinate (VAC)', 'I will not vaccinate (NoVAC)' and 'I do not know if I should get vaccinated (UNK)'. A Chi-square test was performed to determine whether there were differences in COVID-19 vaccination intention according to the general characteristics of the participants, degree of infection control knowledge (Score-K) and practice (Score-P) in response to COVID-19, fears over COVID-19 (Fear-C) and the level of anxiety before (GADBefore ) and after (GADAfter ) the COVID-19 pandemic. Multiple logistic regression was performed to identify factors affecting VAC and NoVAC by setting the base category as UNK. The p-values of <0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: According to the analysis, 44.8%, 18.8% and 36.4% of participants selected VAC, NoVAC and UNK respectively. There were significant differences in vaccination intention according to age, monthly income, residential area, symptoms related to COVID-19, Score-K, Fear-C and GADBefore . Compared to UNK, < $2000 monthly income, Score-K and Fear-C variables significantly influenced the opinion of VAC. Compared to the answer UNK, monthly incomes of $2000 to $2360 and $2360 to $2730 in residential areas significantly influenced the opinion of NoVAC. CONCLUSIONS: The variables influencing vaccination intention were monthly income, residential area, Score-K and Fear-C.

Response to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic of dental hygienists in South Korea-Part II: Fear and anxiety.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the mental fear and anxiety about coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among Korean clinical dental hygienists and to investigate factors influencing the anxiety felt after the outbreak of COVID-19. METHODS: A questionnaire on mental fear (Fear-C) and anxiety for COVID-19 was conducted among 500 clinical dental hygienists in South Korea. Fear-C was identified with eight questions. The General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) questionnaire was scored for the pre-COVID-19 situation (GADBefore ) and the current situation going through the pandemic (GADAfter ). The scores for the responses to the questionnaire were 0 points for strong negative and 3 points for strong positive. Higher scores indicate higher levels of fear and anxiety. All data were analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics, and the statistical significance was set at α = 0.05. RESULTS: The average Fear-C was 16.11 ± 3.89 out of 24.00. There were significant differences in Fear-C when the type of work organization and symptoms related to COVID-19 (Sx-C) differed. Significant differences were confirmed in GADBefore according to age range, systemic diseases, and Sx-C (p < 0.05). There was no difference in GADAfter for all general characteristics, except Sx-C (p > 0.05). In the regression model of GADAfter , Sx-C (ß = 0.526), Fear-C (ß = 0.358), and GADBefore (ß = 0.515) were positively related to GADAfter (p < 0.001), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Most dental hygienists complained of Fear-C. GADAfter was significantly higher than GADBefore . The factor that had the greatest impact on GADAfter was Sx-C.

Factors affecting the infection control behaviours of Korean dental hygienists in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to identify the factors affecting the prevention of cross-infection with coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) among Korean dental hygienists. METHODS: The level of knowledge about COVID-19 (KNWCO ), level of awareness of infection control (AWRIC ), degree of performance for infection control (PRFIC ), and organizational factors for infection control (OFWIC ) of clinical dental hygienists in Korea to prevent COVID-19 transmission were investigated. A self-written online questionnaire was administered to dental hygienists currently working in dental clinics or hospitals, and the survey results of 263 participants were analysed. Pearson's correlation coefficients were calculated for relationships between the KNWCO , AWRIC , PRFIC , and OFWIC . Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to identify the factors affecting the PRFIC . Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: Knowledge about COVID-19, AWRIC , PRFIC , and OFWIC were significantly correlated with each other. OFWIC (ß = 0.491, p < 0.001), followed by AWRIC (ß = 0.428, p < 0.001) and KNWCO (ß = 0.095, p = 0.013), had the greatest impact on PRFIC with regard to the prevention of COVID-19 transmission. CONCLUSIONS: Organizational factors for infection control and AWRIC should be strengthened to improve PRFIC and prevent COVID-19 transmission during dental care.

Effect of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on oral health of Korean adolescents.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic on Korean adolescents' oral health and identify the influential factors. METHODS: The raw data from The Korea Youth Risk Behaviour Web-based Survey before (2019) and after (2020) the outbreak of COVID-19 were used in the study. Demographic characteristics and subjective general, mental, and oral health were analysed and compared between the 2 years. Further, the impact of changes in subjective mental health and the duration of indoor activity on oral health were analysed. Data were analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics, and all statistical significance was set at α = 0.05. The analysis was performed using the complex sample analysis module. RESULTS: In 2020, compared with 2019, the proportion of adolescents who rated high on subjective academic performance, smoking, and drinking decreased (p < 0.001). However, there was no difference in the household economic status between 2020 and 2019 (p = 0.917), while subjective mental health improved. In addition, the risk of tooth fracture was 1.321 times higher after the pandemic. After the outbreak of COVID-19, adolescents who were indoors for >24 h for non-learning activities on weekends were 2.97 times more likely to have reported gingival pain and bleeding (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: After the outbreak of COVID-19, smoking and drinking decreased in Korean adolescents, while changes occurred in their learning patterns at home, and their mental health improved. Some oral symptoms increased or showed no change.

Response to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic of dental hygienists in South Korea-Part â : Knowledge and practice of infection control.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate infection control knowledge and its practice of clinical dental hygienists in response to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in South Korea. METHODS: Nine questions (Q9-K) on the degree of knowledge acquisition of dental hygienists in response to COVID-19, and another 9 questions (Q9-P) on the practices for COVID-19 infection and spread prevention were prepared. From 500 clinical dental hygienists in South Korea, answers about their general characteristics, Q9-K, and Q9-P were collected. 1 point was given to each question based on the 'yes' answers from Q9-K and Q9-P, and Score-K and Score-P were calculated, respectively. To identify factors affecting Score-P, a multiple linear regression analysis was performed. In all analyses, p-values lower than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Average scores of Score-K and Score-P were 7.36 ± 1.35 and 6.26 ± 2.07, respectively. The regression model of Score-P was significant (F = 20.788, p < 0.001). Concerning Score-P, Score-K (ß = 0.385), age (ß = 0.275), dental hospital (ß = 0.158), monthly income of $2,360~$2,730 (ß = 0.104) had a significantly positive correlation, and the total years of career (ß = -0.293) are found to have a significantly negative correlation. CONCLUSIONS: Infection control knowledge and practice of clinical dental hygienists in South Korea was found to be vulnerable in the group of hygienists who are younger than 27 years old, working in dental clinics, and whose monthly income is less than under $2,000. Also, the factor that influences infection control practice the most was the degree of knowledge. Therefore, continuous infection control education and supplement targeting these vulnerable groups are necessary.