Impact of mandatory social isolation measures due to the COVID-19 pandemic on the subjective well-being of Latin American and Caribbean dentists

• María-Claudia Garcés-Elías ^[1] ; Roberto A. León-Manco ^[1] ; Ana Armas-Vega ^[2] ; Andrés Viteri-García ^[4] ; Andrés A. Agudelo-Suárez ^[3]
  1. [1] Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia

     Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia

     Perú

     
  2. [2] Universidad Central del Ecuador

     Universidad Central del Ecuador

     Quito, Ecuador

     
  3. [3] Universidad de Antioquia

     Universidad de Antioquia

     Colombia

     
  4. [4] Epistemonikos Foundation, Santiago, Chile. Center for Research in Public Health and Clinical Epidemiology (CISPEC), Faculty of Health Sciences Eugenio Espejo, UTE University, Quito, Ecuador

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• Localización: Journal of Clinical and Experimental Dentistry, ISSN-e 1989-5488, Vol. 14, Nº. 1 (January), 2022, págs. 40-47
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • Background: With the spread of the COVID-19 virus, containment measures such as home confinement were implemented, generating stress, anxiety, depression and aggravation of pre-existing diseases in the population, in- cluding dentists, who have also been affected due to the risk involved in practicing their profession. Objective: To determine the impact of mandatory social isolation measures on the subjective well-being of Latin American and Caribbean dentists during the community quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

    Material and Methods: A Cross-sectional study in a sample of 1195 dentists from 21 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. The main outcome was Subjective Well-Being, evaluated through the World Health Organization Well-Being Index (WHO-5). In addition, sociodemographic characteristics, variables related to the community quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic and health variables were considered. A descriptive, bivariate and mul- tivariate (multiple linear regression) analysis was performed to observe the behavior of the variables.

    Results: A multiple linear regression analysis was performed, where all the variables included within dimensions, were distributed in a single model, observing an R2% of 9.000 (p<0.001), where the R2% change was significant (p<0.001) and a constant of 44.190; likewise, within this model, the variable follow-up of preventive measures against COVID-19 reported an unstandardized regression coefficient (b) of 2. 316 (95%CI:1.133-3.499; p<0.001), the self-perceived level of concern against COVID-19 obtained a (b) of -5.470 (95%CI:-7.509--3.430; p<0.001), the biological sex variable manifested a (b) of -5.417 (95%CI: - 1.157-1.910; p<0.001); finally, the level of econo- mic income during compulsory social isolation presented a (b)=5.354 (CI95%:3.461- 7.247; p<0.001).

    Conclusions: An association was found between subjective well-being and variables related to the social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, such as following preventive measures, concern about the pandemic and economic factors (decrease in income level), in addition to biologic sex. Follow-up strategies are required for these dental professionals, considering that social isolation measures have continued in many of the countries.