The dental COVID-19 paradox: Disparity in behaviors inside and outside dental schools in Canada.

Abstract

To describe the personal and professional behavior and assess the perceptions of protection and fear of contracting coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among faculty, staff, and students from all 10 Canadian dental schools during the second year of the pandemic. Participants from a Pan-Canadian prospective study answered monthly questionnaires about their activities between April 2021 and March 2022. In May 2022, additional questions were asked about their perception of protection, fear of infection, and instances of COVID-19 testing. Six hundred participants were initially recruited. Over time, the participants spent less time at home and increased their participation in indoor social activities, a trend influenced by the fluctuations in COVID-19 cases (β=‒0.02). Over 90% of the participants were fully vaccinated, which decreased their fear of contracting the virus (χ2[4, 241‒243]=196.07, p<0.0001). Yet, their attitude toward protective measures did not change, and they followed them within school. This work shows a paradoxical behavior among dental students, staff, and faculty members in Canadian dental schools. While factors such as the vaccine's limited efficacy and a desire to protect others may contribute to stringent protective behaviors within dental schools, the mandatory nature of these measures was likely the primary motivator for the compliance. Despite potential efforts to minimize exposure to the virus during risk periods and the frequent COVID-19 testing, this paradoxical behavior raises questions about professional responsibilities extending beyond the workplace. Thus, dental schools should incorporate education about the rationale behind following different protocols and the potential consequences of outside school behaviors.