JoAnn R Gurenlian1, Rachel Morrissey2, Cameron G Estrich3, Ann Battrell4, Sue K Bessner5, Ann Lynch6, Matthew Mikkelsen7, Marcelo W B Araujo8, Marko Vujicic9. 1. Professor and Graduate Program Director, Department of Dental Hygiene, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID, USA. 2. Research Analyst, Education, Health Policy Institute, American Dental Association, Chicago, IL, USA. 3. Health Research Analyst, Evidence Synthesis and Translation Research, American Dental Association Science & Research Institute, LLC, Chicago, IL, USA. 4. Chief Executive Officer, American Dental Hygienists' Association, Chicago, IL, USA. 5. Director of Professional Development, American Dental Hygienists' Association, Chicago, IL, USA. 6. Director of Education and Advocacy, American Dental Hygienists' Association, Chicago, IL, USA. 7. Manager, Education Surveys, Health Policy Institute, American Dental Association, Chicago, IL, USA. 8. Chief Science Officer, American Dental Association, Science & Research Institute, Chicago, IL, USA. 9. Chief Economist and Vice President, Health Policy Institute, American Dental Association, Chicago, IL, USA. vujicicm@ada.org.
Abstract
Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to drops in patient volume and staffing in dental practices in the United States (US). This study aimed to provide insights on dental hygienists' employment patterns as well as their attitudes toward working as dental hygienists during a pandemic. Methods: Licensed dental hygienists were invited to participate in a web-based 30-question survey between September 29 and October 8, 2020. Employment questions included current and pre-pandemic work status, reasons for not currently working as a dental hygienist, and estimated levels of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the primary work location. All statistical analysis was conducted in Qualtrics Core XM; cross tabulation was used to examine dental hygienist working patterns and attitudes by age, practice PPE supply, and other factors. Results: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an estimated 8% reduction in dental hygienist employment. The majority (59.1%, n=205) of this reduction is voluntary, with the main reason being general concerns over COVID-19 (48.3%, n=100). Other reasons include issues surrounding childcare and concerns over safety measures in the workplace. Dental hygienists aged 65 and older were most likely to have left the workforce voluntarily. More than half of respondents reported that their work locations had more than a two-week supply of most PPE items, although about 10% did not know supply levels. Dental hygienists working in settings with lower supplies of PPE were more concerned with COVID-19 transmission risk to themselves or to patients. Conclusion: COVID-19 has led to a reduction in the dental hygienist workforce that is likely to persist until the pandemic passes.The dental hygienist labor market has tightened and employers may continue to experience difficulties in filling vacant dental hygienist positions until the pandemic subsides. There is also likely to be a longer term, yet smaller, impact on dental hygiene employment levels.
Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to drops in patient volume and staffing in dental practices in the United States (US). This study aimed to provide insights on dental hygienists' employment patterns as well as their attitudes toward working as dental hygienists during a pandemic. Methods: Licensed dental hygienists were invited to participate in a web-based 30-question survey between September 29 and October 8, 2020. Employment questions included current and pre-pandemic work status, reasons for not currently working as a dental hygienist, and estimated levels of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the primary work location. All statistical analysis was conducted in Qualtrics Core XM; cross tabulation was used to examine dental hygienist working patterns and attitudes by age, practice PPE supply, and other factors. Results: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an estimated 8% reduction in dental hygienist employment. The majority (59.1%, n=205) of this reduction is voluntary, with the main reason being general concerns over COVID-19 (48.3%, n=100). Other reasons include issues surrounding childcare and concerns over safety measures in the workplace. Dental hygienists aged 65 and older were most likely to have left the workforce voluntarily. More than half of respondents reported that their work locations had more than a two-week supply of most PPE items, although about 10% did not know supply levels. Dental hygienists working in settings with lower supplies of PPE were more concerned with COVID-19 transmission risk to themselves or to patients. Conclusion:COVID-19 has led to a reduction in the dental hygienist workforce that is likely to persist until the pandemic passes.The dental hygienist labor market has tightened and employers may continue to experience difficulties in filling vacant dental hygienist positions until the pandemic subsides. There is also likely to be a longer term, yet smaller, impact on dental hygiene employment levels.
Authors: Laura A Eldridge; Cameron G Estrich; JoAnn R Gurenlian; Ann Battrell; Ann Lynch; Marko Vujicic; Rachel Morrissey; Stacey Dershewitz; Maria L Geisinger; Marcelo W B Araujo Journal: J Am Dent Assoc Date: 2022-08 Impact factor: 3.454
Authors: Elena M Varoni; Lucrezia Cinquanta; Marta Rigoni; Giulia Di Valentin; Giovanni Lodi; Paola Muti; Andrea Sardella; Antonio Carrassi Journal: PLoS One Date: 2022-02-02 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Cecile A Feldman; Janine Fredericks-Younger; Gayathri Subramanian; Maria Laura Gennaro; Modupe O Coker; Daniel H Fine Journal: J Am Dent Assoc Date: 2022-01-24 Impact factor: 3.454