Journal of Education and Health Promotion 2277-9531 11 11 2021 12 01 Psychological consequences of lockdown on dental professionals during the early phase of the COVID‑19 pandemic 1 8 28931 EN . Bhuvan Jyoti . Manisha Kiran Department of Psychiatric Social Work, Ranchi Institute of Neuropsychiatry and Allied Sciences, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India . Rahul Srivastava Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Rama Dental College Hospital and Research Centre, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India . Vikas Jaiswal Department of Psychiatric Social Work, Ranchi Institute of Neuropsychiatry and Allied Sciences, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India . Swati Kumari Department of Psychiatric Social Work, Ranchi Institute of Neuropsychiatry and Allied Sciences, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India . Amitabh K. Sinha Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Buddha Institute of Dental Sciences and Hospital, Patna, Bihar, India Journal Article 2023 03 01 BACKGROUND: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, the virus that causes COVID‑19,<br />mainly spreads through respiratory droplets. The dental profession is particularly at risk. Routine<br />dental care was suspended after the announcement of the first lockdown in India. This makes the<br />group vulnerable to psychosocial consequences. The present study aims to evaluate the psychosocial<br />issues among dental professionals during COVID‑19 pandemic.<br />MATERIALS AND METHODS: Across‑sectional study was conducted among 627 dental professionals<br />of India, using online Google Forms from April 23, 2020, through April 30, 2020. Participants were<br />evaluated using self‑constructed and self‑administered personal and professional hardship and fear<br />checklist specifically developed for this study. The 9‑item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ‑9)<br />Depression Scale and 7‑item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale and PHQ‑15 were used to assess<br />the depression, anxiety, and somatic symptoms.<br />RESULTS: Fear had a remarkable impact on 80.7% of responders. Among the participants, 40.5%,<br />24.5%, and 30.6% reported symptoms of depression, anxiety, and somatic symptoms, respectively.<br />Somatic symptoms were significantly associated with gender (P = 0.000). Work setting was significantly<br />associated with depression (P = 0.011) and anxiety symptoms (P = 0.001). Concern, worry, and fear<br />due to COVID‑19 were significantly associated with depression (P = 0.000), anxiety (P = 0.033), and<br />somatic symptoms (P = 0.009). There was a positive correlation between depression and anxiety<br />symptoms (P = 0.01) and between age and somatic symptoms (P = 0.5).<br />CONCLUSIONS: This group reported a high level of depression, anxiety, and somatic symptoms.<br />Female dental professionals and private practitioners had more depression, anxiety, and somatic<br />symptoms. Immediate and special intervention is needed for this group. Further exploration into the<br />nature and its effects of the psychological symptoms may be required.<br /><br /> https://jehp.mui.ac.ir/article_28931_809e9662b4e80c26d6d720f9cb956809.pdf