IADR Abstract Archives
The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Dental Students
Objectives: To explore dental students’ perceptions and concerns regarding the current COVID-19 pandemic, their coping strategies and support resources, and its impact on their perceived stress levels.
Methods: A survey was distributed electronically to BDS3, BDS4 and BDS5 students from the Cork University Dental School and Hospital. The survey consisted of 19 questions, including questions on demographic information, students' perceptions regarding the current COVID-19 situation; their concerns as it relates to the pandemics; and coping strategies. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) was also used to help understand how the pandemic affected students' feelings and perceived stress. Linear modeling was used to explore the relationships among demographics, stressors, coping mechanisms, social support, and stress.
Results: Ninety-five BDS3, BDS4 and BDS5 students replied to the survey. Among these, 92 students stated they were concerned about the impact of the pandemic on their dental education, 75 are stressed about graduating on time and 95 find the changes made to their dental education stressful. All students sought support from their family and friends during this time with the majority to a great extent (52.6%). The Perceived stress scale (PSS) showed that the majority of students (53.7%) are moderately stressed with females reporting the higher stress scores (31.7%) compared to males (17.1%). Moreover, final year students presented higher stress values than third- and fourth-year students.
Conclusions:
The Covid-19 pandemic has had an impact on dental students. In general, stress levels were moderate among students, and PSS scores were higher among males and final year dental students.
Methods: A survey was distributed electronically to BDS3, BDS4 and BDS5 students from the Cork University Dental School and Hospital. The survey consisted of 19 questions, including questions on demographic information, students' perceptions regarding the current COVID-19 situation; their concerns as it relates to the pandemics; and coping strategies. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) was also used to help understand how the pandemic affected students' feelings and perceived stress. Linear modeling was used to explore the relationships among demographics, stressors, coping mechanisms, social support, and stress.
Results: Ninety-five BDS3, BDS4 and BDS5 students replied to the survey. Among these, 92 students stated they were concerned about the impact of the pandemic on their dental education, 75 are stressed about graduating on time and 95 find the changes made to their dental education stressful. All students sought support from their family and friends during this time with the majority to a great extent (52.6%). The Perceived stress scale (PSS) showed that the majority of students (53.7%) are moderately stressed with females reporting the higher stress scores (31.7%) compared to males (17.1%). Moreover, final year students presented higher stress values than third- and fourth-year students.
Conclusions:
The Covid-19 pandemic has had an impact on dental students. In general, stress levels were moderate among students, and PSS scores were higher among males and final year dental students.