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

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2021

Sami Aldhuwayhi ,
Saquib Ahmed Shaikh ,
Sreekanth Kumar Mallineni Open the ORCID record for Sreekanth Kumar Mallineni [Opens in a new window] ,
Vinutha Varadharaju Kumari ,
Amar Ashok Thakare ,
Abdul Rehman Ahmed Khan ,
Mohammed Ziauddeen Mustafa  and
Mohnish Z. Manva
Sami Aldhuwayhi
Affiliation:
Department of Prosthodontics, College of Dentistry, Majmaah University, AlMajmaah, Saudi Arabia
Saquib Ahmed Shaikh
Affiliation:
Department of Prosthodontics, College of Dentistry, Majmaah University, AlMajmaah, Saudi Arabia
Sreekanth Kumar Mallineni*
Affiliation:
Department of Preventive Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Majmaah University, AlMajmaah, Saudi Arabia
Vinutha Varadharaju Kumari
Affiliation:
Department of Prosthodontics, College of Dentistry, Majmaah University, AlMajmaah, Saudi Arabia
Amar Ashok Thakare
Affiliation:
Department of Prosthodontics, College of Dentistry, Majmaah University, AlMajmaah, Saudi Arabia
Abdul Rehman Ahmed Khan
Affiliation:
Department of Preventive Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Majmaah University, AlMajmaah, Saudi Arabia
Mohammed Ziauddeen Mustafa
Affiliation:
Department of Prosthodontics, College of Dentistry, Majmaah University, AlMajmaah, Saudi Arabia
Mohnish Z. Manva
Affiliation:
Department of Restorative Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Majmaah University, AlMajmaah, Saudi Arabia
*
Corresponding author: Sreekanth Kumar Mallineni, Emails: drmallineni@gmail.comors.mallineni@mu.edu.sa
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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

dental practitionersSaudi Arabiasource of informationstressstress bustersstress relievers
Type
Original Research
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 16 , Issue 5 , October 2022 , pp. 1975 - 1981
Copyright
© Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2021

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