Einfluss von COVID-19 auf die Gruppenprophylaxe in Bayern - eine Querschnittstudie

Introduction: The 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has also posed completely new challenges for group dental prophylaxis programs in Germany for more than a year. Due to physical distancing measures, LAGZ (Bavaria Provincial Working Group for Dental Health) dentists were initially no longer able to visit kindergartens and schools, so that important impulses for dental health were practically completely eliminated. There are currently no data on the impact of the pandemic on group prophylaxis. Thus, the aim of the present study was to analyze the perception of LAGZ dentists and the impact of the pandemic on their group prophylactic activities with regard to COVID-19. Methods: Data collection was carried out with the help of an online questionnaire in which the perspective of the LAGZ dentists in Bavaria regarding prevention, well-being, and safety as well as fear of self-infection and infection of others in the daily routine of group prophylaxis during the COVID-19 pandemic were systematically surveyed. Results: A total of 655 respondents (248 women, 169 men, 248 no response) with an average age of 50.2 ± 10.4, an average dental activity of 23.1 ± 9.8, and an average group prophylactic activity of 17.3 ± 9.5 years answered the questionnaire. In this context, 9.6 % of the participants carried out group prophylactic measures in May 2020 to July 2020. This proportion remained virtually unchanged from September 2020 (10 %) and increased to 23.3 % from March 2021. While group prophylactic measures were initially only limited, mainly in the form of the distribution of information- and toothbrushing-materials ("reminder packs"), this changed from May 2020 onwards, with visits to kindergartens and schools also taking place again. From March 2021, the colleagues also carried out tooth brushing exercises again in compliance with the hygiene rules. With regard to possible self-infection, 12.6 % of the respondents stated that they had been concerned about becoming infected with COVID-19 at least once; only 2.4 % became ill. Conclusion: The cross-sectional study shows the difficulties faced by LAGZ dentists during the pandemic and highlights the importance of an established concept for the urgent continuation of group prophylaxis as an important aspect of dental health. Thus, the findings could be the basis for the development of concepts during pandemics.