Willingness and ability of oral health care workers to work during the COVID-19 pandemic

• Published in: The Journal of the American Dental Association (1939) Vol. 152; no. 10; pp. 791 - 799
• Main Authors: Scully, Allison C., Joshi, Ajay P., Rector, Julia M., Eckert, George J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 01-10-2021; American Dental Association
• Subjects: access to care; auxiliaries/dental personnel; Dental staff members; Dentistry; Investigation; practice management; Dental staff members; practice management; NA; PPE; auxiliaries/dental personnel; OHCW; access to care; HCW
• ISSN: 0002-8177; 1943-4723
• DOI: 10.1016/j.adaj.2021.04.021

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt dental practice in the United States. Oral health care workers play an integral role in societal health, yet little is known about their willingness and ability to work during a pandemic.
Oral health care workers completed a survey distributed on dental-specific Facebook groups during an 8-week period (May 1-June 30, 2020) about their willingness and ability to work during the COVID-19 pandemic, barriers to working, and willingness to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
Four hundred and fifty-nine surveys were returned. Only 53% of dentists, 33% of dental hygienists, 29% of dental assistants, and 48% of nonclinical staff members would be able to work a normal shift during the pandemic, and even fewer (50%, 18%, 17%, and 38%, respectively) would be willing to work a normal shift. Barriers included caring for family, a second job, and personal obligations, and these were faced by dental assistants and hygienists. Dentists were more likely than hygienists (P < .001), assistants (P < .001), and nonclinical staff members (P = .014) to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
Oral health care workers have a decreased ability and willingness to report to work during a pandemic, and dentists are significantly more able and willing to work than hygienists and assistants. Dentists are more likely than staff to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
The results of this study may help inform future initiatives of dental workforce readiness during a pandemic. Dentists should be prepared to discuss alterations to standard operating procedures to allay staff members’ fears and improve retention rates during pandemics, allowing for improved access to oral health care.