Implications for clinical dental practice during the coronavirus disease pandemic: A scoping review

Measuring job stress of dental workers in China during the COVID-19 pandemic: reliability and validity of the hospital consultants' job stress questionnaire

BACKGROUND

The Hospital Consultants' Job Stress Questionnaire (HCJSQ) has been widely used to assess sources and levels of job stress. However, its reliability and validity among Chinese dental workers have not been extensively studied. The objective of this study was to assess the reliability and validity of the HCJSQ specifically in Chinese dental workers.

METHODS

The HCJSQ was used to explore the sources and the global ratings of job stress among Chinese dental workers. To assess the reliability and validity of the HCJSQ, various statistical measures were employed, including Cronbach's alpha coefficient, Spearman-Brown coefficient, Spearman correlation coefficient, exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, convergent validity, and discriminant validity.

RESULTS

Of the participants, 526 (17.4%) reported high levels of stress, while 1,246 (41.3%) and 1,248 (41.3%) reported moderate and low levels of stress, respectively. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the modified HCJSQ was 0.903, and the Spearman-Brown coefficient was 0.904. Spearman correlation coefficient between individuals' items and the total score ranged from 0.438 to 0.785 (p < 0.05). Exploratory factor analysis revealed that three factors accounted for 60.243% of the total variance. Confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated factor loadings between 0.624 and 0.834 on the specified items. The fit indices of the confirmatory factor analysis indicated good model fit, with a Root Mean Square Error of Approximation of 0.064, Normative Fit Index of 0.937, Comparative Fit Index of 0.952, Incremental Fit Index of 0.952, Tucker-Lewis index of 0.941, and Goodness of Fit Index of 0.944. Additionally, the convergent validity and discriminant validity showed a good fit for the three-factor model.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study confirm that Chinese dental workers experience high levels of stress, and the three-factor model of the HCJSQ proves to be a suitable instrument for evaluating the sources and levels of job stress among Chinese dental workers. Therefore, it is imperative that relevant entities such as hospitals, medical associations, and government take appropriate measures to address the existing situation.

Visualization of droplets and aerosols in simulated dental treatments to clarify the effectiveness of oral suction devices

PURPOSE

The hazards of aerosols generated during dental treatments are poorly understood. This study aimed to establish visualization methods, discover conditions for droplets/aerosols generated in simulating dental treatments and identify the conditions for effective suction methods.

METHODS

The spreading area was evaluated via image analysis of the droplets/aerosols generated by a dental air turbine on a mannequin using a light emitting diode (LED) light source and high-speed camera. The effects of different bur types and treatment sites, reduction effect of intra-oral suction (IOS) and extra-oral suction (EOS) devices, and effect of EOS installation conditions were evaluated.

RESULTS

Regarding the bur types, a bud-shaped bur on the air turbine generated the most droplets/aerosols compared with round-shaped, round end-tapered, or needle-tapered burs. Regarding the treatment site, the area of droplets/aerosols produced by an air turbine from the palatal plane of the anterior maxillary teeth was significantly higher. The generated droplet/aerosol area was reduced by 92.1% by using IOS alone and 97.8% by combining IOS and EOS. EOS most effectively aspirated droplets/aerosols when placed close (10 cm) to the mouth in the vertical direction (0°).

CONCLUSIONS

The droplets/aerosols generated by an air turbine could be visualized using an LED light and a high-speed camera in simulating dental treatments. The bur shape and position of the dental air turbine considerably influenced droplet/aerosol diffusion. The combined use of IOS and EOS at a proper position (close and perpendicular to the mouth) facilitated effective diffusion prevention to protect the dental-care environment.