The aim of this observational cross-sectional study was to gain information on the awareness; protective measures and economic effects of dentists in Switzerland during the global COVID-19 pandemic. All dentist were members of the Swiss Dental Association SSO from all over Switzerland—including all Swiss cantons and Liechtenstein—and received a previously calibrated questionnaire as an ad hoc online version. The questionnaire was divided into four parts: personal data; precautionary measures; awareness; perception. In total, 1324 questionnaires were analyzed; the response rate was 30.59% (n^total = 4328). Participants stated in less than 2% common symptoms/signs of COVID-19; of which only fatigue was statistically significant (p < 0.01). A small number of dentists reported a positive test (0.91%; n = 12) or having one or more symptoms (2.65%; n = 35) of COVID-19 during the pandemic; whereas only 6.71% (n = 87) of the participants reported having treated SARS-CoV-2 infected patients. High prevalence areas were only medium-large and large Swiss cantons (p < 0.01). Face filter (FFP2/FFP3) masks were used by about half of the dentists, while disposable visor was rarely used. The majority of dentists had to reduce the dental practice activity to a minimum of 0–10% (n = 923; 69.98%) due to the lockdown. This economic impact forced 1.4% (n = 18) to close their practice permanently or by the end of 2020 due to the economic situation. These results can be helpful to better prepare dental practices for future outbreaks of infection (e.g., prophylactic storage of additional protective measures), define the best strategy and organize the dental workforce. Political decision-makers should consider drastic economic effects when deciding on drastic measures such as “lockdown”, which can lead to practice closures and unemployment of dental staff after only a few weeks. This should be taken into account, especially with regard to possible financial assistance to severely impaired dental practices to maintain a high level of dental care.

中文翻译：

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瑞士和列支敦士登的COVID-19：对牙医的意识，保护措施和经济影响的跨部门调查

这项观察性横断面研究的目的是获得有关意识的信息。全球COVID-19大流行期间瑞士牙医的保护性措施和经济影响。所有牙医都是瑞士全国（包括所有瑞士州和列支敦士登）的瑞士牙科协会SSO的成员，并收到了事先校准过的问卷（作为临时在线版本）。问卷分为四个部分：个人数据；预防措施; 意识; 知觉。总共分析了1324份问卷。回应率为30.59％（n^总= 4328）。参与者陈述不到2％的COVID-19常见症状/体征；其中只有疲劳有统计学意义（p<0.01）。少数牙医在大流行期间报告呈阳性（0.91％；n = 12）或有一种或多种COVID-19症状（2.65％；n = 35）；而只有6.71％（n = 87）的参与者报告曾治疗过SARS-CoV-2感染的患者。高流行地区仅是中型和大型瑞士州（p <0.01）。大约一半的牙医使用了面部过滤器（FFP2 / FFP3）口罩，而很少使用一次性遮阳板。由于锁定，大多数牙医不得不将牙科活动减少到至少0-10％（n = 923; 69.98％）。这种经济影响迫使1.4％（n= 18）由于经济状况，永久性或在2020年底前关闭其业务。这些结果有助于更好地为将来的感染爆发做好牙科准备（例如，预防性存储其他保护措施），确定最佳策略并组织牙科工作人员。政治决策者在决定采取诸如“封锁”之类的严厉措施时，应考虑到严峻的经济影响，这可能导致牙科护理人员仅在几周后就被关闭，并使牙科人员失业。应考虑到这一点，尤其是在为严重受损的牙科实践提供可能的财务援助以维持高水平的牙科保健方面。