Effect of COVID-19 pandemic psychological behavior of dental assistants in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional survey

Background: Dentists and dental auxiliaries are considered at high risk for the spread of COVID-19 due to their direct contact with the patient's oral cavity. The stress of being infected with the virus was high during the pandemic. This research aims to estimate the psychological impact of COVID-19 on dental assistants in Saudi Arabia during this pandemic.Methodology: This questionnaire-based cross-sectional study used a pre-validated Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale with 21 Items (DASS-21) to assess the psychological impact on the mental health of dental assistants during the COVID-19 pandemic. The questionnaire was sent to the participants through the mail using Google Forms. One reminder email was sent after a week to fill out and submit the form. Data were entered using Microsoft Excel and later analyzed by the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software.Results: The response rate was 75% (210 out of 280). Most participants were 20-40 years old and only 10 were above 50. Most participants were females (180) and were of non-Saudi origin. The results of a com-parison of DASS scores between males and females were statistically significant (p = 0.001), with a higher mean total DASS score noted in males (20.03) compared to females (13.68).Conclusion: Healthcare workers in direct contact with patients, such as dental assistants, have a higher risk of contracting the infection, which increases their psychological stress and anxiety.