Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on brazilian dentists in 2020: an epidemiologic study

Alessandra Areas E Souza,Juliana Casemiro Ferreira Silva,Bruno Boabaid Loureiro,Elizangela Cruvinel Zuza

doi:10.1590/1807-2577.00221

Alessandra Areas E Souza, Juliana Casemiro Ferreira Silva + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/1807-2577.00221

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Abstract

Abstract Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an interruption in work activities in various sectors, generating an economic crisis and a high rate of unemployment worldwide. Objective To assess the behavior and perceptions of Brazilian dentists about the COVID-19 pandemic and to verify its impact on the routine of dental care. Material and method The electronic questionnaire was disseminated through social networks from July to November/2020. The representativeness for the study sample was calculated, generating a sample calculation of 385 dentists. Result In total, 318 dentists (82.6%) from all regions of Brazil answered the questionnaire, being 112 men (35.2%) and 206 women (64.8%). Most of the interviewees, that is, 249 dentists (78.3%) reported working in private offices or clinics. Of the interviewees, 26 (8.8%) tested positive for COVID-19 and another 10 (3.1%) had symptoms of the disease, but did not take the test. No interviewees reported having been hospitalized due to the disease. During the period of application of the questionnaire, 235 respondents were attending routine and emergency patients (73.9%). Only 174 (54.7%) reported feeling safe with the use of personal protective equipment. Most interviewees declared that they did not have a financial reserve for the interruption of work activities (54.7%). Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on dentistry, and better financial planning, in addition to constant reinforcement of biosafety care, which is essential for professionals in the healthcare area, can help to protect them and maintain their professional practice in times of pandemic and uncertainty.

Highlights

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an interruption in work activities in various sectors, generating an economic crisis and a high rate of unemployment worldwide
The new coronavirus, Sars-CoV-2 has been identified as the etiologic agent of the disease named COVID-19, which started in Wuhan, China in late 2019 and has spread worldwide
The disease, which spreads via the airways and through contact with infected secretions, has low morbidity, it has a high rate of spread and evolution

Summary

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an interruption in work activities in various sectors, generating an economic crisis and a high rate of unemployment worldwide. The disease, which spreads via the airways and through contact with infected secretions, has low morbidity, it has a high rate of spread and evolution Those infected by the virus may experience breathing difficulties and/or pneumonia, perhaps presenting the need for the use of mechanical respirators or intubation, with frequent hospitalizations in the intensive care unit (ICU), which creates a major public health problem in the face of limited ICU beds for the care of large populations.[1,2]. Countless Brazilian cities have implemented quarantine and social isolation, to try to contain the spread of the virus.[3,4,5] The most effective preventive measures to reduce the contagion capacity of the new coronavirus are: use of a mask to protect the mouth and nose region, frequent hand hygiene with water and soap or 70% alcohol gel, identification and isolation of individuals affected by COVID19 or with symptoms, and, for health professionals, the use of personal protective equipment (PPE)

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