European student wellness, stress, coping, support and perceptions about remote dental training during COVID-19.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare wellness, stress, ability to cope, social support and perceptions about remote training amongst European dental students during COVID-19. METHODS: 1795 undergraduate dental students from six countries and eight dental schools participated. The anonymous survey collected data about different aspects in each of the following domains: wellness, stress, ability to cope, social support and perceptions about remote training. Complex multi-item scales were used for all domains. RESULTS: There were differences amongst countries in all the domains. Overall, student stress scores were lower than either their coping or support scores. The highest wellness score (mean ±sd) was observed in Romania: 62.5% ± 11.2% whilst the highest mean stress scores were observed in Albania: 46.3% ± 11.7% and Lithuania: 42.2% ± 13.8%. Overall, student stress and coping ability scores were lower and their support scores higher. About 10% of students did not have any support. In the linear multivariable regression analysis, significant predictors of wellness were being female (ß = 0.073), not being in a graduating year (ß = 0.059), having less stress (ß = 0.222), ability to cope (ß = 0.223) and having support (ß = 0.179). The student positive perceptions about remote training were predicted by less stress (ß = 0.080), coping (ß = 0.182) and support (ß = 0.057). CONCLUSIONS: Students varied in wellness, stress, coping, social support and perceptions of remote training. Also, there were significant differences amongst students from different countries. Coping was the best predictor of both student wellness and their positive perceptions about remote training.

Dental Health Services Response to COVID-19 in Norway.

We aimed to investigate the management of urgent dental care, the perception of risk and workplace preparedness among dental staff in Norway during the COVID-19 pandemic. An electronic questionnaire regarding the strictest confinement period in Norway (13 March-17 April 2020) was distributed to dental staff. Among the 1237 respondents, 727 (59%) treated patients, of whom 170 (14%) worked in clinics designated to treat patients suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19. Out of them 88% (143) received training and 64% (103) simulation in additional infection prevention procedures, while 27 (24%) respondents reported deviation. In total, 1051 (85%) respondents perceived that dental staff had a high risk of being infected, 1039 (84%) that their workplace handled the current situation well, 767 (62%) that their workplace had adequate infection control equipment and 507 (41%) agreed that their workplace is well equipped to handle an escalation. Before an appointment, 1182 (96%) respondents always/often inquired per phone information if a patient experienced symptoms of COVID-19, and 1104 (89%) asked about a history of travel to affected areas. Twice as many patients on average per week were treated by phone than in a clinic. A lower proportion of dental staff in high incidence counties applied additional infection prevention measures compared to low and medium incidence counties. To conclude, urgent dental health care was managed relatively well in Norway. Additional training of the dental staff in adequate infection prevention and step-by-step procedures may be needed. These results may be used to improve the dental health service's response to future outbreaks.