Abstract

Effect of Pranayama-Yoga on Anxiety during Covid-19 Pandemic amongst Dental Practitioners in Local Select Population

Aim: To assess the effect of pranayam-yoga on anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic amongst dental practitioners in the Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad area. Hypothesis: Dental practitioners are anxious during the COVID-19 pandemic, dental practitioners do not practice pranayam-yoga and there is no effect of pranayam-yoga on anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic amongst dental practitioners in Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad area. Materials and Methods: A sample of 286 dental practitioners (125 males and 161 females) with ages from 23 to 69 years was selected by purposive sampling method. The anxiety and pranayam-yoga questionnaire by Mulay and Ubhe (2020) was used to study the variables. Statistical analysis: Chi-Square, Pearson’s product correlation method. Results: The results showed that 20% of dental practitioners had anxiety, 27% maybe have anxiety and 53% did not have anxiety. Pranayam-yoga was practiced by 59%, whereas 41% did not practice pranayam-yoga. Negative correlation (‘r’= -0.305**) was found between anxiety and dental practitioners practicing pranayam-yoga, and a positive correlation (‘r’=0.198*) was found between anxiety and dental practitioners not practicing pranayam-yoga. Hence, the dental practitioners in Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad who practiced pranayam-yoga had less anxiety. In varied dental practice settings, the Chi-Square value (χ2=1.64) in anxiety and Chi-Square value (χ 2=0.28) in pranayam-yoga practice was not significant. In varied years of work experience the Chi-Square value (χ 2=16.43**) in anxiety and Chi-Square value (χ 2=21.06**) in pranayam-yoga practice was significant. In back to dental practice during and after lockdown the Chi-Square value (χ2=46.03**) in anxiety was significant but the Chi-Square value (χ 2=2.12) in pranayam-yoga practice was not significant.

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