Evaluation of the pandemic biosafety protocol in a dental teaching clinic from the patient's perspective

This study aimed to assess whether patients feel safe or anxious when receiving dental care at a teaching clinic; the study was carried out from the perspective of patients, given the biosafety protocol during the 2019 Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This cross-sectional study was carried out with 217 patients assisted by students in the Dental Clinic of the Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic data, humanization and the safety protocols followed during care. Multivariate analysis was performed using Poisson regression (PR), and p values ≤0.05 were understood. Around 90% of patients reported that students were attentive, communicative, welcoming and confident during treatment about the risk of contracting COVID-19 during care. Patients who showed anxiety during treatment were 32.2%. Some patients were unable to keep their distance in the waiting room (PR 3.439) and did not feel safe during the appointment (PR 2.64) had a higher prevalence of anxiety during dental care. Anxiety about care was associated with the individual's color or ethnicity, ability to maintain social distancing in the waiting room, and feeling safe when receiving care.