Table 3.
Dental care and PPE used by hygienists after first COVID-19 peak of the pandemic.
| Questions | Public n (%) |
Private n (%) |
p-Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dental care on patients | |||
| —I continue to work treating scheduled patients. | 21 (4.1) | 267 (51.6) | <0.005 * |
| —I continue to work in my usual position, with no aerosol activities. | 46 (8.9) | 60 (11.61) | <0.005 * |
| —I continue to work in my usual position, treating only dental emergencies. | 34 (6.6) | 24 (4.6) | <0.005 * |
| —I am located at home attending only emergencies. | 1 (0.2) | 8 (1.5) | >0.05 |
| —I have stopped working by own decision. | 4 (0.8) | 6 (1.2) | >0.05 |
| —I have stopped working due to dismissal. | 3 (0.6) | 39 (7.5) | <0.05 * |
| —I have stopped working completely. | 2 (0.4) | 2 (0.4) | >0.05 |
| <0.001 * | |||
| If you have returned to work, what measures have you included for patients? | |||
| —Quote spacing | 98 (4.5) | 304 (14.0) | <0.005 |
| —Hand washing with hydroalcoholic gel | 95 (4.4) | 345 (15.9) | 0.992 |
| —Mandatory mask | 93 (4.3) | 320 (14.8) | 0.306 |
| —Patient cap | 41 (1.9) | 196 (9.0) | <0.05 |
| —Patient shoe covers | 28 (1.3) | 225 (10.4) | <0.005 |
| —Mouthwash for the patient before treatment | 83 (3.8) | 339 (15.6) | <0.05 |
| <0.001 * | |||
| New protection measures included in dental surgery | |||
| —Disinfection for shoes at the entrance | 42 (3.1) | 198 (14.6) | 0.05 * |
| —Partition screen in reception | 34 (2.5) | 288 (21.2) | <0.001 * |
| —Safety distance signalling | 47 (3.5) | 158 (11.6) | 0.586 |
| —Readaptation of spaces in waiting room | 79 (5.8) | 355 (24.7) | <0.05 * |
| —HEPA filters | 5 (0.4) | 66 (4.9) | <0.005 * |
| —Others air purification systems | 10 (0.7) | 96 (7.1) | <0.005 * |
| <0.001 * | |||
| What type of masks do you use mainly? | |||
| —Surgical | 13 (2.5) | 40 (7.7) | 0.692 |
| —FFP2 always | 13 (2.5) | 43 (8.3) | 0.869 |
| —FFP2 + surgical | 80 (15.5) | 313 (60.5) | 0.330 |
| —FFP2 and FFP3 occasionally | 1 (0.19) | 3 (0.6) | >0.05 |
| —FFP3 always | 0 | 1 (0.19) | >0.05 |
| —FFP3 + surgical | 4 (0.77) | 6 (1.16) | >.05 |
| >0.05 ** | |||
| Do you use any other type of PPE? | |||
| —Cup | 98 (4.0) | 378 (15.5) | 0.142 |
| —Protective glasses | 73 (3.1) | 280 (11.5) | 0.868 |
| —Facial screen | 98 (4.0) | 353 (14.5) | 0.829 |
| —Disposable gown | 72 (2.9) | 244 (10%) | 0.422 |
| —Waterproof suit on top of regular work clothes | 52 (2.13) | (221 (9.1) | 0.189 |
| —Shoe covers | 34 (1.39) | 158 (6.5) | 0.136 |
| —Double globes | 92 (1.4) | 285 (11.7) | <0.05 * |
| >0.05 ** | |||
| Information on protective measures necessary to prevent professional infection that you have introduced in your clinic has come from: | |||
| —Health service management. | 52 (5.9) | 48 (5.5) | <0.005 * |
| —Clinic management. | 44 (5.1) | 227 (26.0) | <0.005 * |
| —The Council of Dentists/Professional Colleges. | 53 (6.1) | 290 (33.3) | <0.005 * |
| —From my personal search on websites or social networks. | 36 (4.1) | 109 (12.5) | 0.297 |
| —I have not received any information. | 7 (0.8) | 6 (0.7) | <0.005 * |
| <0.05 ** | |||
| Have you complied with official recommendations to prevent infections? | |||
| —Yes, always | 97 (18.8) | 330 (63.8) | |
| —Almost always | 12 (2.3) | 60 (11.6) | |
| —Sometimes | 0 | 11 (2.1) | |
| —Almost never | 1 (1.2) | 4 (0.7) | |
| —Never | 1 (0.2) | 1 (0.2) | |
| >0.05 *** | |||
| I identify more with: | |||
| —Return to work without restrictions | 6 (1.2) | 75 (14.5) | >0.005 |
| —Return to work progressively, limiting aerosols | 77 (14.9) | 276 (53.4) | 0.870 |
| —Only attend emergencies | 19 (3.7) | 27 (5.22) | >0.005 |
| —Dental activity should not have been started | 9 (1.7) | 28 (5.4) | 0.817 |
| >0.001 * | |||
Note: * X2 Pearson test; ** Fisher test; *** Mann-Whitney U test.