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. 2022 Oct;16(5):1975-1981.
doi: 10.1017/dmp.2021.215. Epub 2021 Jun 28.

Occupational Stress and Stress Busters Used Among Saudi Dental Practitioners During the COVID-19 Pandemic Outbreak

Sami Aldhuwayhi  1 , Saquib Ahmed Shaikh  1 , Sreekanth Kumar Mallineni  2 , Vinutha Varadharaju Kumari  1 , Amar Ashok Thakare  1 , Abdul Rehman Ahmed Khan  2 , Mohammed Ziauddeen Mustafa  1 , Mohnish Z Manva  3
Affiliations

Occupational Stress and Stress Busters Used Among Saudi Dental Practitioners During the COVID-19 Pandemic Outbreak

Sami Aldhuwayhi et al. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2022 Oct.

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to assess the stress levels, stress busters (stress relievers), and coping mechanisms among Saudi dental practitioners (SDPs) during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic outbreak.

Method: A self-administered questionnaire was sent to SDPs via Google Forms. Cohen's stress score scale was used for stress evaluation, and the mean scores were compared based on age, gender, qualification, and occupation. In addition, comparisons of the utilization of stress coping mechanisms and stress busters based on gender, age, and occupation were evaluated. Descriptive statistics were carried out using SPSS Version 21.0 (IBM Corp, Armonk, NY).

Results: A total of 206 SDPs (69% males and 31% females) participated in the study. Male SDPs showed a higher score than females (P > 0.05). SDPs around age 50 years and above obtained high stress scores (25 ± 7.4) as compared with other age groups (P < 0.05). The occupational level showed higher stress scores (22.6 ± 4.6 than the other occupation groups (P < 0.05). The majority of the SDPs used watching TV/mobile/computer (80%) as a stress buster, followed by binge eating (64%), exercise (44%), smoking (32%), do-it-yourself (DIY; 23%), and meditation (17%).

Conclusion: SDPs are experiencing stress levels during the COVID-19 pandemic. Male SDPs above age 50 years and private practitioners showed higher levels of stress scores. An overall commonly used stress buster was smoking in males and meditation in females.

Keywords: Saudi Arabia; dental practitioners; source of information; stress; stress busters; stress relievers.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Pictorial representation of stress busters (stress relief activities) used in the study: A. Binge eating. B. Meditation. C. Do-it-yourself. D. Watching TV/Computer. E. Smoking. F. Exercise.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Description of contributing factors for stress during dental practice post-COVID-19 pandemic outbreak.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Saudi dental practitioners’ responses to question on applying any coping mechanism for relieving stress.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Details of stress busters (stress relief activities) used by Saudi dental practitioners.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
Details of stress busters (stress relief activities) used by Saudi dental practitioners based on gender, age, and occupation.
Figure 6.
Figure 6.
Proposed model based on recommendations of Khosravi et al. (2020).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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