PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Eldridge, Laura A.
AU  - Estrich, Cameron G.
AU  - Gurenlian, JoAnn R.
AU  - Battrell, Ann
AU  - Lynch, Ann
AU  - Vujicic, Marko
AU  - Morrissey, Rachel
AU  - Dershewitz, Stacey L.
AU  - Geisinger, Maria L.
AU  - Araujo, Marcelo W.B.
TI  - United States Dental Health Care Workers’ Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic
DP  - 2022 Aug 01
TA  - American Dental Hygienists' Association
PG  - 9--19
VI  - 96
IP  - 4
4099  - http://jdh.adha.org/content/96/4/9.short
4100  - http://jdh.adha.org/content/96/4/9.full
SO  - J Dent Hyg2022 Aug 01; 96
AB  - Background: This study was designed to assess the prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms and understand factors influencing mental health among dental health care workers (DHCWs) during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: Beginning in June 2020, 8,902 DHCWs participated monthly in an anonymous longitudinal, web-based survey (response rate, 6.7%). The Patient Health Questionnaire-4 was used to estimate rates of anxiety and depression symptoms. Changes in mental health over time and differences by demographic and practice characteristics, COVID-19 community transmission level, and COVID-19 vaccination status were tested using χ2 tests and multilevel multivariable logistic regression.Results:Anxiety symptom rates peaked in November 2020 (28% of dental hygienists, 17% of dentists) and declined to 12% for both professions in May 2021. Depression symptom rates were highest in December 2020 (17% of dental hygienists, 10% of dentists) and declined to 8% in May 2021. Controlling for gender, age, race or ethnicity, and COVID-19 community transmission level, the authors found that dentists had significantly lower odds of anxiety symptoms (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.82; 95% CI, 0.70 to 0.95) and depression symptoms (aOR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.67 to 0.93) than dental hygienists. Compared with vaccinated respondents, those who were unvaccinated but planning on getting vaccinated had significantly higher rates of anxiety (aOR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.08 to 2.30) and depression (aOR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.07 to 2.29) symptoms.Conclusions: DHCWs' mental health fluctuated during the pandemic. Anxiety and depression in DHCWs were associated with demographic and professional characteristics as well as perceived risk of COVID-19.Practical Implications: Mental health support should be made available for DHCWs.This clinical trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov. The registration numbers are NCT04423770 and NCT04542915.