Positive Diagnosis of COVID-19 in an Integrated Teaching and Healthcare Service and Its Associated Factors

TL;DR

This study examines factors linked to positive COVID-19 diagnoses among dental professionals and staff in a Peruvian dental school during 2021–2022.

Contribution

The study identifies year 2022 and lack of patient contact as significant factors associated with positive COVID-19 diagnoses.

Findings

The year 2022 was positively associated with a positive diagnosis of COVID-19 (aPR: 1.51).

Not having contact with a patient with COVID-19 was negatively associated with diagnosis (aPR: 0.20).

Abstract

Developing and implementing an epidemiological surveillance plan was necessary during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure safe dental practice. This was due to the high risk faced by this occupational group during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to determine the factors associated with COVID-19 diagnosis in a Peruvian dental school’s integrated teaching and care service. A cross-sectional study was conducted with a population made up of the records of students, teachers, and administrative personnel in a COVID-19 epidemiological surveillance plan of a dental school during the years 2021 to 2022. The year 2022 was positively associated with a positive diagnosis of COVID-19 (aPR: 1.51; 95% CI: 1.10–2.07; p = 0.010) and not having had contact with a patient with COVID-19 was negatively associated with being diagnosed with that disease (aPR: 0.20; 95% CI: 0.14–0.27; p < 0.001). In conclusion, 2022 was positively associated with having a positive COVID-19 diagnosis. In addition, not having had contact with a COVID-19 patient was negatively associated with the disease diagnosis and with the development of moderate to severe COVID-19.