How does the quarantine resulting from COVID-19 impact dental appointments and patient anxiety levels?

Abstract The present study sought to evaluate the impact of quarantine resulting from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on dental appointments and patients’ positions and concerns regarding their ongoing dental treatment. Patients from private dental clinics answered an online questionnaire anonymously regarding their treatment, availability and willingness to attend dental appointments, and concerns about contamination. Descriptive statistics of the responses were performed with percentages and responses were compared between sexes, regions, and other aspects using the chi-squared test. Five hundred ninety-five patients (412 females and 183 males; mean age: 38.21 years) answered the questionnaire. Most patients reported they were receiving dental treatment (orthodontics) and would attend to a dental appointment; meanwhile, those patients not receiving treatment would not attend or would visit only in the case of an emergency. Males reported to be calmer than females, who were more anxious and afraid; as such, males reported more willing to go a dental appointment while, in general, females were not worried about how quarantine could affect dental treatment. Patients actively undergoing treatment and orthodontic patients were more concerned about a delay in treatment. There was a significant association between feelings about the COVID-19 pandemic and the level of willingness to attend a dental appointment. The quarantine recommended due to the COVID-19 pandemic was shown to have an impact on dental appointments and the anxiety levels of patients, since there was a significant association between patients’ feelings and their willingness to attend a dental appointment. Overall, patients undergoing dental treatment and orthodontics were more willing to attend an appointment and were more concerned about an increase in treatment duration.

摘要：本研究旨在评估2019冠状病毒病（coronavirus disease 2019，COVID-19）大流行期间实施的检疫措施对牙科就诊情况、患者就诊状态，以及患者对正在进行的牙科治疗的态度与顾虑的影响。本研究面向私立牙科诊所的患者，通过匿名线上问卷收集其治疗进展、就诊可行性与就诊意愿，以及对感染风险的担忧等信息。采用描述性统计学方法对问卷结果进行百分比统计，并通过卡方检验比较不同性别、地区及其他特征人群的应答差异。本次研究共回收有效问卷595份，受访者中女性412例、男性183例，平均年龄38.21岁。多数受访者表示正在接受牙科治疗（正畸治疗）且愿意前往牙科就诊；而未接受治疗的患者则倾向于不就诊，仅在急诊情况下才会就医。男性受访者称自己较女性更为平静，女性则表现出更高的焦虑与恐惧情绪；因此男性更愿意前往牙科就诊，而总体而言女性并不担心检疫措施对牙科治疗的影响。正在接受治疗的患者与正畸患者对治疗延误更为担忧。研究发现，患者对COVID-19大流行的感受与就诊意愿之间存在显著关联。结果表明，COVID-19大流行期间推行的检疫措施确实对牙科就诊情况及患者的焦虑水平产生了影响，患者的情绪感受与其就诊意愿间存在显著关联。整体而言，正在接受牙科治疗及正畸治疗的患者更愿意前往就诊，且更担忧治疗周期延长。