(PO-045) Psychological Impact of COVID-19 Among Dental Students

Author: Kamran Awan, D.D.S Ph.D.
Author: Tapasya Gurumurthy
Author: Joshua Finch
Author: Claudia Freitas, PhD – Roseman University of Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine
Author: Landon Ledingham
Author: Teresa Vu,
Author: Reeya Shrestha
Author: Amir Mohajeri, Ph.D. – Research Associate, Roseman University of Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine – South Jordan, Utah
Submitter: Kamran Awan, Ph.D. – Roseman University of Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine – South Jordan

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to analyze the perceived psychological impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic among dental students. Students self-analyzed and assessed their perceived changes in stress, self-esteem and lifestyle behavior changes, based on the impact of the pandemic. 

Methods: A self-designed, anonymous online questionnaire consisting of 18 items was administered to the University dental students. Chi-square test was used for comparison of psychological factors towards socio-demographic variables. Correlations between stress and self-esteem as well as lifestyle behavior was also reported. The study was approved by the institutional review board.The questionnaire delivered to hundreds of healthcare students at Roseman University first required students to input their gender, age, graduation year, college, and marital status. Then a series of themed questions regarding stress/anxiety, self-esteem and lifestyle behaviors were presented, with six questions in each section, for a total of 18 questions. Participants in the survey were asked whether they strongly agreed, agreed, disagreed, or strongly disagreed to each question, so the survey was entirely of a self-reporting nature and completely subjective. 

Results:   A total of 313 students with the mean age of 28.15 (SD:4.21) participated in the study. There were statistically significant differences between students in ages and years of study with regards to stress and lifestyle behavior changes. Regarding marital status, statistically significant differences were observed for stress and self-esteem. Also, we found race differences between students in lifestyle behavior changes. In addition, cross-tabulations of stress with self-esteem and lifestyle behavior changes showed positive relationships, as students with higher levels of stress showed significant self-esteem problems and lifestyle behavior changes.

Conclusions:  Our results showed that the COVID-19 pandemic imposes significant psychological impact on dental students. However, further studies are needed to assess the long-lasting impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on university healthcare students.