Abstract
COVID-19 is a pandemic that has affected health care personnel worldwide. Dentists have a high risk of contracting COVID-19 given the face-to-face contact required in daily interactions with their patients. This study aimed to determine the stressors experienced by academic dentists due to the COVID-19 situation in Trinidad and Jamaica. All academic staff at the University of the West Indies (UWI) dental schools (St. Augustine and Mona campuses) were invited to complete a self-reported questionnaire, which was conducted for one month from May to June 2020. Thirty-two dental academics responded and the response rate was 61.54%. More than a third (34.4%) were in the 25–35 age group, 71.9% were females. The most common speciality (20.7%) was restorative dentistry. Just over one-third (38.7%) had been in academia for 5–10 years. Most (40.6%) were apprehensive about infecting their family. When the locus of control was determined, just over half (53.1%) felt they were in control of protecting themselves while 34.4% felt that external factors controlled their lives. The findings suggest that academic staff at UWI dental schools (Trinidad and Jamaica) were stressed by the COVID-19 situation. The vast majority were worried about infecting their families.
Highlights
The coronavirus disease of 2019, known as COVID-19, is caused by a novel coronavirus termedSARS-CoV-2 [1]
This study aimed to determine the stressors of academics, their demographics and the factors that affect the locus of control of the participants at the dental schools in the University of the West
The questions were based on a review of the literature available at the time, on the fear and stress faced by dental academics
Summary
The coronavirus disease of 2019, known as COVID-19, is caused by a novel coronavirus termedSARS-CoV-2 [1]. The coronavirus disease of 2019, known as COVID-19, is caused by a novel coronavirus termed. The virus can spread from person to person, includes a range of respiratory symptoms and its incubation period varies from 3 to 14 days and is more contagious than the seasonal flu [1]. There are many types of human coronaviruses that cause varying degrees of respiratory illness. This is one of the newest strains of human coronaviruses and is spread through droplet infection [2], aerosols and cross-contamination from objects to persons’ faces [1]. The virus affects all persons including children and infants, to date, the elderly and persons with preexisting medical conditions have been more likely to be infected by the virus and develop severe symptoms as a result [2]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
