TY - JOUR PY - 2021// TI - Psychological distress among Bangladeshi dental students during the CoViD-19 pandemic JO - International journal of environmental research and public health A1 - Sabrina, Farah A1 - Chowdhury, Mohammad Tawfique Hossain A1 - Nath, Sujan Kanti A1 - Imon, Ashik Abdullah A1 - Quader, S. M. Abdul A1 - Jahan, Md Shahed A1 - Noor, Ashek Elahi A1 - Podder, Clopa Pina A1 - Gainju, Unisha A1 - Niroula, Rina A1 - Rahman, Muhammad Aziz SP - EP - VL - 19 IS - 1 N2 - BACKGROUND: Psychological sufferings are observed among dental students during their academic years, which had been intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the levels and identified factors associated with psychological distress, fear and coping experienced by dental undergraduate students in Bangladesh.

METHODS: A cross sectional online survey was conducted during October-November, 2021. The Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K-10), Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) and Brief Resilient Coping Scale (BRCS) were used in order to assess psychological distress, fear and coping strategies, respectively.

RESULTS: A total of 327 students participated; the majority (72%) were 19-23 years old and females (75%). One in five participants were infected with COVID-19 and 15% reported contact with COVID-19 cases. Negative financial impact (AOR 3.72, 95% CIs 1.28-10.8), recent or past COVID-19 infection, and contact with COVID-19 cases were associated with higher levels of psychological distress; but being a third year student (0.14, 0.04-0.55) and being satisfied about current social life (0.11, 0.03-0.33) were associated with lower levels of psychological distress. Being a third year (0.17, 0.08-0.39) and a fourth year student (0.29, 0.12-0.71) were associated with lower levels of fear. Health care service use and feeling positive about life were associated with medium to high resilience coping.

CONCLUSIONS: This study identified dental students in Bangladesh who were at higher risk of psychological distress, fear and coping during the ongoing pandemic. Development of a mental health support system within dental institutions should be considered in addition to the academic and clinical teaching.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 1661-7827 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19010176 ID - ref1 ER -