Publication details

Comparison of COVID-19 epidemic among Czech dentists and the Czech general population

Authors

SCHMIDT Jan PEŘINA Vojtěch SUCHANEK Jakub TREGLEROVÁ Jana PILBAUEROVA Nela ŠANCA Ondřej MUŽÍK Jan SMUCLER Roman

Year of publication 2023
Type Article in Periodical
Magazine / Source Nature Scientific Reports
MU Faculty or unit

Faculty of Medicine

Citation
Web https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-40427-8
Doi http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-40427-8
Keywords COVID-19; dentists; general population; epidemic
Description Dentists are one of the professional groups most at risk for COVID-19 infection. Enhanced protective measures in dentistry have been adopted worldwide; however, it is unclear to what extent they were sufficient. To assess whether the protective measures outweighed the high infection risk, we compared COVID-19-related data between Czech dentists and the general Czech population. The data was obtained through a survey study attended by 15.8% of Czech Dental Chamber members. Data of the general population were acquired from the Czech Ministry of Health database. By the end of May 2022, COVID-19 full vaccination and 1st booster dose rates among study participants were 85.8% and 70.1%, respectively, which is significantly higher (p<0.0001) compared to the Czech general population aged over 24 years (74.9% and 49.4%, respectively). To the same date, PCR/Antigen test verified COVID-19 prevalence among participants was 41.7%, and 49.9% among the general population (p<0.0001). Prevalence and reinfection rates among individuals who received the 1st booster were significantly lower than among individuals without the booster or full vaccination (p<0.0001). Persons who received the booster showed a faster return to work, shorter and different types of complications. Willingness to future vaccination was positive among 79.7% of respondents. Mandatory vaccination for healthcare workers and the general population was supported by 62.0% and 49.0%, respectively. The results showed that the high risk of COVID-19 infection associated with dentistry did not lead to higher COVID-19 prevalence among respondents compared to the general population.

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