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Vuković A, Mandić-Rajčević S, Sava-Rosianu R, D Betancourt M, Xhajanka E, Hysenaj N, Bajric E, Zukanović A, Philippides V, Zosimas M, Nikolaos M, Vlahović Z, Denkovski M, Peric T, Markovic D, Campus G. Pediatric Dentists' Service Provisions in South-East Europe during the First Wave of COVID-19 Epidemic: Lessons Learned about Preventive Measures and Personal Protective Equipment Use. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021; 18:ijerph182211795. [PMID: 34831551 PMCID: PMC8622949 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182211795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 11/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Having in mind the importance of providing continuous pediatric dental services during the COVID-19 pandemic and the fact that children have similar viral loads to adults, the potential to spread the virus to others, and with variable clinical presentation of COVID-19 infection, this study aimed to analyze the impact of COVID-19 outbreak on pediatric dentistry service provision, risks, and preventive measures before and during dental treatment. Method: Structured and closed epidemiological cross-sectional survey involved seven Southeastern European countries. The questionnaire was developed using the modified Delphi method, pretested, and tested in North Italy during April 2020. The sample consisted of licensed dental professionals reached via national dental chambers and social media using the best strategies according to the national setting. Results: A total of 3227 dentists participated in the survey, and we included 643 specialists in this study—among them, 164 were pediatric dentists. Most pediatric dentists worked in the public sector (61.0%) and provided emergency (64.6%) and routine dental treatment (18.3%) during the outbreak. One-third of pediatric dentists were COVID-19 tested, statistically significantly more than other specialties, and 3.0% tested COVID-19 positive. In addition, significantly more pediatric dentists (13.4%) reported the presence of at least one symptom related to COVID-19 compared to other specialists (6.1%). None of the pediatric dentists reported PPE shortage. However, 26.2% of all specialists stated that they lacked clear step by step professional guidance in a national language. Similarly, in both groups, around 10% of specialists attended education on coronavirus. Conclusions: Considering that most pediatric dentists provided dental treatment during lockdown in their countries in public health centers and that they will continue to work during pandemic, our results suggest that pediatric dentists might be at higher risk of COVID-19 infection. Further research should focus on finding better ways to promote and adapt preventive, protective measures and PPE in the pediatric dental setting to be behaviorally acceptable. Moreover, additional efforts should be invested in dental education regarding COVID-19 in the mother tongue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Vuković
- Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, School of Dental Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (A.V.); (T.P.); (D.M.)
| | - Stefan Mandić-Rajčević
- School of Public Health and Health Management, Institute of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +381-612299112
| | - Ruxandra Sava-Rosianu
- Department of Preventive, Community Dentistry and Oral Health, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes”, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Marcela D Betancourt
- Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Dental Clinic, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland; (M.D.B.); (G.C.)
| | - Edit Xhajanka
- Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Medicine, 1005 Tirana, Albania; (E.X.); (N.H.)
| | - Neada Hysenaj
- Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Medicine, 1005 Tirana, Albania; (E.X.); (N.H.)
| | - Elmedin Bajric
- Department for Preventive and Paediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Sarajevo University, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina; (E.B.); (A.Z.)
| | - Amila Zukanović
- Department for Preventive and Paediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Sarajevo University, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina; (E.B.); (A.Z.)
| | | | - Marios Zosimas
- Cyprus Dental Association, Nicosia 2414, Cyprus; (V.P.); (M.Z.)
| | | | - Zoran Vlahović
- Department of Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Pristina, 38220 Kosovska Mitrovica, Serbia;
| | | | - Tamara Peric
- Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, School of Dental Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (A.V.); (T.P.); (D.M.)
| | - Dejan Markovic
- Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, School of Dental Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (A.V.); (T.P.); (D.M.)
| | - Guglielmo Campus
- Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Dental Clinic, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland; (M.D.B.); (G.C.)
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