Influencing Factors of Mental Health Status of Dentists Under COVID-19 Epidemic

Indicators associated with job morale of physicians in low- and middle-income countries during the COVID- 19 pandemic: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The COVID- 19 pandemic has placed immense strain on healthcare systems around the globe, with low- and middle-income countries facing unique challenges due to limited resources and fragile healthcare infrastructures. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to define the levels of four indicators of job morale (job motivation, job satisfaction, burnout, and depression symptoms) among physicians working in public healthcare settings in low- and middle-income countries.

METHODS

A comprehensive search of Scopus, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, and grey literature was performed. Studies were eligible if at least one job morale indicator (job motivation, job satisfaction, burnout, or depression symptoms) was assessed using quantitative methods, and at least 50% of the sample were qualified physicians working in low- and middle-income countries during the COVID- 19 pandemic. Random effects meta-analyses, planned sub-group analyses, and meta-regression were performed.

RESULTS

Overall, 82 studies involving 65,431 participants across 26 middle-income countries met the inclusion criteria for the review. The pooled random effect estimates of the prevalence of burnout suggest that 49% of physicians working in middle-income countries during the COVID- 19 pandemic suffered from professional burnout. The overall estimate of the mean was 24.64, which also indicated a high level of burnout. The pooled random effect estimates of the prevalence of depression symptoms varied from 41 to 58%, depending on the adopted scale. Sufficient data were not available for meta-analyses of job motivation and job satisfaction.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings suggest that job morale among physicians working in middle-income countries was generally low during the COVID- 19 pandemic. However, due to substantial variation and limited methodological quality among the studies included, any conclusions offered should be approached with caution. Future research should focus on assessing job morale in low-income regions and identifying effective resilience strategies to support interventions aimed at improving job morale.

Depression and Anxiety Among Dentists: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background and Aims

Many studies investigated the prevalence and severity of depression and anxiety among dentists. This systematic review aimed to determine: (i) the prevalence and severity of depression and anxiety symptoms, (ii) the prevalence rates of depression and anxiety before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, and (iii) gender difference in prevalence of depression and anxiety among dentists.

Methods

Eligible articles on depression and anxiety in dentists were systematically searched for in PubMed and Scopus databases from September 2023 to October 2023 according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis protocol. We assessed the methodological quality of the studies using the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment checklist adapted for cross-sectional studies. Statistical heterogeneity across the studies was evaluated using Cochran's Q test and I 2 statistic. The prevalence rates of depression and anxiety were calculated using the random-effect model with the Restricted Maximum-Likelihood estimator. Of 3762 searched articles, 33 articles were analyzed.

Results

The prevalence rates of depression and anxiety symptoms among dentists were 42% and 44%, respectively. The prevalence rates of mild, moderate, and severe or extremely severe depression were 20%, 18%, and 8%, respectively. For mild, moderate, and severe or extremely severe anxiety, the respective prevalence rates were 21%, 18%, and 11%. We did not find evidence to suggest differences in depression or anxiety prevalence rates between the periods before and during COVID-19. In comparison with men, women showed approximately 27% higher risk of experiencing depression and 24% higher risk of experiencing anxiety.

Conclusion

Equally high levels of depression and anxiety in dentists were found both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a significant percentage of moderate to severe depression and anxiety. Female dentists reported a higher prevalence of depression and anxiety symptoms than their male colleagues.

Evaluation of healthcare-related factors influencing mental health of Taiwanese citizens among different age groups

The issue of mental health has gained heightened recognition as a significant public health concern due to its potential to significantly impact various aspects of individuals' lives. Numerous factors may influence mental health, and this study seeks to investigate and compare potential healthcare-related factors that affect the mental health of Taiwanese individuals across different age groups. Data for this study were taken from the Taiwan Social Change Survey (TSCS), conducted in 2021. Descriptive statistics were calculated to compare the three age groups. Then, multiple regression models were constructed with mental health conditions as the dependent variable and demographics and other key healthcare-related components as independent variables, respectively. Results showed that, among the three age groups, the middle-aged adults had the highest BMI, and the older adults had significantly better mental health. As compared with the other age groups, the older adults had significantly better perceptions of fair distribution of healthcare resources, and their trust in the healthcare system was the highest. With regard to searching for online healthcare information, the frequency reported by the older adults was the lowest. The regression model showed that, religious belief, trust in the healthcare system and searching for online healthcare information were significantly associated with mental health of middle-aged adults. In the younger group, searching for online healthcare information was significantly negatively associated with mental health. The study's findings provide insight into how to provide Taiwanese citizens of different age groups with proper and targeted mental health promotion activities.

The Status of Occupational Stress and Its Influence on the Health of Medical Staff in Lanzhou, China

This study aimed to understand the status quo of occupational stress and its impact on the health of medical staff and provide a theoretical basis for relieving occupational stress and improving the health status of medical staff. The occupational stress and health status of medical staff in 14 hospitals in Lanzhou were studied using a general questionnaire, Effort-Reward Imbalance questionnaire, and Self-Rated Health Measurement Scale. A total of 2169 participants were included in the analysis, and 59.4% of the medical staff experienced occupational stress. The results of the occupational stress survey showed that the prevalence of occupational stress among medical staff aged 40-50, with a master's degree or above, senior professional title, working for 10-20 years, and working more than 48 h per week was higher than in the other groups. The health survey results showed that, compared with other groups, the scores of physical, mental, and social health were lower in medical staff with working years of 10-20 years and working hours of more than 48 h per week. The results show that working years and working hours per week affect not only the level of occupational stress but also physiological, psychological, and social health.