Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic caused risks and burdens for health professionals and might result in job leaving intentions. To assess the potential risks, we explored the association of the job leaving intentions with exposure to COVID-19 risk, impact of pandemic management on professional and personal life, and personal coping resources among Slovak dentists in the first wave of the outbreak. Methods: We obtained data from 500 dentists (66.8% females, M/SD = 43.8) registered with the Slovak Chamber of Dentists using an online questionnaire. Data were analysed using logistic regression models adjusted for age and gender. Results: Nearly 40% of dentists reported job leaving intentions after the first wave of the pandemic outbreak. Job leaving intentions were associated with exposure to COVID-19 risks (odds ratios, ORs, varying from 1.6 to 4.7), impact of pandemic management on professional and personal life (Ors from 1.6 to 2.9), and personal coping resources (Ors from 0.4 to 0.6). Conclusion: Better management of exposures to risks and impact on professional and personal life, as well as building better personal coping resources may prevent the loss of a valuable workforce in dental care.

1 Stomatology Clinic University Hospital of Louis Pasteur Faculty of Medicine P J Safarik University Kosice Slovakia

Department of Community and Occupational Medicine University Medical Center Groningen University of Groningen Groningen Netherlands

Department of Health Psychology and Research Methodology Faculty of Medicine P J Safarik University Kosice Slovakia

Division of Biosciences Faculty of Life Sciences University College London London United Kingdom

Graduate School Kosice Institute for Society and Health Faculty of Medicine P J Safarik University Kosice Slovakia

Olomouc University Social Health Institute Palacky University Olomouc Czechia

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