Abstract

BASSON, R; SMIT, D; MAART, R  and  GORDON, N. The psychosocial effect of the COVID-19 national lockdown on Dentistry and Oral Hygiene students. S. Afr. dent. j. [online]. 2022, vol.77, n.4, pp.191-198. ISSN 0375-1562.  http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2519-0105/2022/v77no4a1.

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 lockdown has had a psychological and social impact on dental students globally. AIM: To determine the psychosocial effect on students enrolled in dentistry and oral hygiene courses at UWC. OBJECTIVES: To determine the psychosocial effects (living conditions, levels of anxiety, fear of COVID-19, and food security levels) experienced by students during the lockdown. DESIGN: A descriptive, cross-sectional study using a quantitative approach was used. METHODS: A randomised sample (n=250), stratified by sex and academic year group, comprising undergraduate oral hygiene BOH total students = 90 and dentistry BDS total students = 450 (UWC, 2020) was used. Data was gathered via an online survey, (Google Forms). Survey questions included the GAD-7, FCV-19S questionnaire, and Food Security scales. RESULTS: The data were analysed using Epi Info 7. The response rate was 36% (n=90); 69.67% were female; the mean age was 22.34 (SD = 2.66); 91% lived with their parents during lockdown. Students' main sources of funding were parents (47%), NSFAS or bursary (42%) and self-funded (11%). Substantial psychosocial effects with high anxiety (33%), fear of COVID-19 (47.3 %), and a lesser effect for food insecurity (FI) (5.49%) was reported. CONCLUSIONS: The study showed that the COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to psychosocial effects in a discipline that under 'normal" conditions is experienced as stressful. This requires educational institutions to develop a targeted approach through relevant support systems that would identify vulnerable students at critical times.

Keywords : COVID-19 lockdown; anxiety; fear of COVID-19; food insecurity; dental students; oral health [hygiene students]; psychosocial factors.

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