COVID-19 döneminde rutin endodontik muayenelerin ertelenmesi sonrası acil endodontik tedaviye yönelik anksiyete: kesitsel bir çalışma

Abstract

Amaç: COVID-19 Aralık 2019’da ortaya çıkmış ve 11 Mart 2020 tarihinde küresel pandemi olarak ilan edilmiştir. Birçok ülke, 21 Mart 2020 tarihinden itibaren rutin endodontik muayeneler dahil, acil olmayan diş bakım hizmetlerini ertelemiştir. Sınırlı diş tedavisine erişim ve uzun süren karantina süreci psikolojik sıkıntıyı tetikleyebilir. Bu çalışma, pandemi döneminde acil endodontik tedaviye yönelik hastaların anksiyete düzeylerini değerlendirmeyi amaçlamıştır. Yöntem: Kesitsel bir çalışma kapsamında, Ordu Üniversitesi Endodonti Anabilim Dalı’nda 21 Mart – 21 Aralık 2021 tarihleri arasında toplam 261 hastaya anket uygulanmıştır. Katılımcılardan yazılı onam alındıktan sonra 28 soruluk anonim bir form doldurmaları istenmiştir. Psikolojik sıkıntı düzeyi Kessler 10 ölçeği ile değerlendirilmiş, istatistiksel analizlerde anlamlılık seviyesi p<0,05 olarak belirlenmiştir. Bulgular 261 katılımcı arasında 33 kişi Anksiyete(+) olarak sınıflandırılmış, 228 kişi Anksiyete(-) grupta yer almıştır. Anksiyete (+) grup, pandemi şiddetini, Anksiyete (-) gruba kıyasla anlamlı derecede daha düşük puanlamıştır (p<0,05). Yaş, cinsiyet, diş bakım alışkanlıkları, tedavi kesintisine dair endişeler veya karantina döneminde yapılan randevulara katılım istekliliği açısından gruplar arasında anlamlı fark gözlenmemiştir. Ancak, Anksiyete(+) hastalar “pandemi tedavimi uzattı” ve “pandemi tedavi sonucumu etkileyecek” ifadelerine anlamlı derecede daha fazla katılmışlardır (p < 0,05). Sonuç: COVID-19 pandemisi, acil endodontik tedaviye yönelik anksiyete düzeyleri; özellikle tedavi süresi ve tedavi sonuçlarıyla ilgili tutum ve davranışlar üzerinde etkili olmuştur. Diş hekimlerinin, pandemi koşullarında acil tedaviyi yönetirken bu psikolojik boyutları da göz önünde bulundurmaları önemlidir.

Keywords

• coronavirüs
• dental anksiyete
• pandemi

Anxiety about emergency endodontic treatment after deferred routine visits during COVID-19: a cross sectional study

Abstract

Aims: COVID 19 emerged in December 2019 and was declared a global pandemic on March 11, 2020. Many countries postponed non urgent dental care, including routine endodontic visits from March 21, 2020. Restricted access to dental treatment and prolonged quarantine may trigger psychological distress. This study evaluated patients’ anxiety regarding emergency endodontic treatment during the pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administered to 261 patients at the Department of Endodontics, Ordu University, between March 21 and December 21, 2021. Participants completed a 28-question anonymous questionnaire after providing written informed consent. Psychological distress was assessed using the Kessler 10 scale, and statistical analyses were performed with significance set at p<0.05. Results: Among 261 participants, 33 were classified as anxiety (+) and 228 as anxiety (-). anxiety (+) group rated pandemic severity significantly lower than the anxiety (-) group (p<0.05). No significant differences emerged regarding age, gender, dental habits, concerns about treatment disruption, or willingness to attend quarantine period appointments. However, anxiety (+) patients were significantly more likely to agree that “the pandemic prolonged my treatment” and “the pandemic will affect my treatment outcome” (p<0.05). Conclusion: The COVID 19 pandemic influenced anxiety levels, attitudes, and behaviors toward emergency endodontic treatment—particularly in relation to treatment duration and outcomes. Dental professionals should recognize these psychological dimensions when managing emergency care during pandemic conditions.

Keywords

• Coronavirus
• dental anxiety
• pandemic

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