ISSN : 2663-2187

Level of Depression, Anxiety and Stress, Among Dental Post Graduates During 2nd Wave of COVID 19: A Cross-Sectional Study

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Dr Pavan Kumar K R, Dr Hemavathi H, Dr Usha G V, Dr Sunitha Shamnur, Dr Yamini Nandini, Dr Monisha R
ยป doi: 10.48047/AFJBS.6.12.2024.1682-1691

Abstract

Introduction: Dentists naturally are subjected to high levels of stress due to heavy workloads, patient relationships, and the urgency of the job. COVID 19 has showed both fear and perceived job insecurity which were proportional to anxiety, stress and depressive symptoms. Objective: To assess level of Depression, Anxiety and Stress among Dental post graduates during the second outbreak of COVID 19. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted on 41 dental post graduates having clinical exposure with patients participated in online questionnaire based survey using DASS -21 scale. A descriptive analysis and chi square test was done to assess depression, anxiety and stress levels among these dental postgraduate students posted in COVID 19 duty. Results: The percentage of female participants 73.17% was more than male participants 26.83%. The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress was found to be 9.7%, 4.8%, and 4.8% respectively. We have found a significant association of depression with anxiety and stress among study participants (p=0.002). Conclusion: Majority of the post graduate students participated were free from psychological impact. But, a mild to moderate level of depression associated with anxiety and stress among few dental post graduates during COVID 19 second outbreak was found to be highly significant. This could be attributed to prior exposure to 1st pandemic COVID wave. The most psychological level of impact was depression followed by both anxiety and stress. There is a need for psychological intervention and mental health programs to promote mental status of dental post graduates at institution level.

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