This thesis of Veronika Pacutová assesses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and its management on dentists and health care workers (HCWs) in Slovakia. It explores the specific challenges faced by dentists, and by hospital staff working at COVID-19 departments. During the first way of the pandemic, dentists faced challenges impacting their quality of life, prompting some to consider leaving due to professional COVID-19 exposure, financial impact and psychological toll. However, dentists demonstrating resilience, altruism, optimism and dedication to patient care were less likely to leave.
The second wave worsened physical and mental health issues for hospital staff, with symptoms ranging from physical ailments to psychological distress. These problems were intensified by factors like job-related stress, use of protective equipment and public non-compliance, impacting also their quality of life. Support from colleagues and specialized training played critical roles in alleviating these challenges.
Additionally, approximately one-third of them experienced patient safety incidents during the pandemic, and anticipated both negative and positive consequences, such as subsequent events, conflicts among colleagues, or patients accepting their apologies. Encouragingly, there was significant interest in training programs to improve patient safety. Our research emphasizes the importance of a good HCWs' health and well-being for overall healthcare and patient safety, urging specific interventions and better pandemic preparedness. It urges acknowledgment of the human side of healthcare and active support for HCWs. Enhanced theoretical understanding and practical measures are also called for to safeguard HCWs' health and improve healthcare, ensuring patient safety.
