COVID-19 and changes in dental practices in the Brazilian Public Health System: perception of the oral health team.

The aim of this study was to verify the perception of the oral health team regarding work safety and aspects related to changes in dental practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. A descriptive, exploratory, quantitative, and qualitative cross-sectional study was conducted using an electronic questionnaire sent via email to health professionals (n = 197) affiliated with the Brazilian Public Health System (SUS), from December 2020 to September 2021, in a municipality located in the northeast of the state of São Paulo, Brazil. The variables of interest were sociodemographic characteristics and those related to the professionals' perception of oral health care during the pandemic and its impact on these workers' occupational safety. Descriptive statistics were performed, and the absolute and relative frequencies of quantitative variables were calculated, whereas lexical analysis was performed for textual content using the descending hierarchical classification (CHD). Out of the total sample, elective and urgent/emergency care was provided by 58.95% (n = 56); physical barriers were absent between the teams in 54.74% (n = 52); minimally invasive techniques were applied in 71.58% (n = 68); personal protective equipment (PPE) was replaced in 81.05% (n = 77) between appointments; and occupational safety was reported by 49.47% (n = 47). Textual analysis showed a decrease in appointments and consultations, with a longer interval between appointments. The professionals noticed changes in dental practices during the pandemic, mainly regarding the use of PPE, the type of treatment performed, the number of treated patients, and the greater time interval between consultations. The physical infrastructure of health units and the availability of PPE to patients needed some adjustments. A significant number of workers felt safe in providing dental care during the pandemic.

Ansiedade dos profissionais da atenção primária à saúde na pandemia de COVID-19 / Anxiety in Primary Health Care professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic

Fundamentos: O desequilíbrio entre o dever profissional e o medo na COVID-19 causaram instabilidade emocional nos trabalhadores da saúde. Objetivos: Avaliar a ansiedade dos profissionais da Atenção Primária à Saúde (APS) e fatores associados e analisar a percepções, positivas e negativas, da pandemia. Metodologia: Estudo transversal descritivo-exploratório, quanti-qualitativo, com profissionais da APS, em município do Estado de São Paulo, Brasil, de dezembro/2020 a março/2021. Realizou-se estatística descritiva e aplicou-se, ao nível de 5%, o teste Qui-quadrado. Para o conteúdo textual, efetuou-se a análise léxica pela Classificação Hierárquica Descendente. Principais resultados: Foi identificado que mais de 50% dos participantes apresentaram ansiedade e ela esteve associada ao fato de ter contraído COVID-19 (p-valor = 0.0327); à interferência nas atividades diárias (P-valor < 0.0001) e com a profissão (p-valor = 0.0483). Os pontos negativos foram a saúde mental; condições de trabalho; atendimentos e comportamento. Os positivos foram biossegurança, autocuidado e uso de equipamentos de proteção individual. Conclusões: A maioria dos profissionais da APS apresentou ansiedade e esteve associada aos fatores sociodemográficos. A pandemia trouxe pontos positivos e negativos na ótica dos profissionais da APS (AU).

Fundaments: The imbalance between professional duty and fear during the in COVID-19 pandemic caused emotional instability in health workers. Objectives: To assess anxiety in Primary Health Care (PHC) professionals and associated factors and analyze the positive and negative perceptions of the pandemic. Methodology: This is a descriptive-exploratory, quantitative and qualitative cross-sectional study, with PHC professionals, in a municipality in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, from December 2020 to March 2021. Descriptive statistics were carried out, and the chi-square test was applied at the 5% level. For textual content, lexical analysis was carried out by Descending Hierarchical Classification. Main results: It was identified that more than 50% of participants had anxiety, and it was associated with having contracted COVID-19 (p-value = 0.0327), interference with daily activities (p-value < 0.0001) and occupation (p-value < 0.0001) -value = 0.0483). Negative points were mental health, working conditions, service and behavior. Positive points were biosafety, self-care and personal protective equipment use. Conclusions: Most PHC professionals presented anxiety, and it was associated with sociodemographic factors. The pandemic brought positive and negative points from PHC professionals' perspective (AU).

COVID-19 and changes in dental practices in the Brazilian Public Health System: perception of the oral health team

Abstract The aim of this study was to verify the perception of the oral health team regarding work safety and aspects related to changes in dental practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. A descriptive, exploratory, quantitative, and qualitative cross-sectional study was conducted using an electronic questionnaire sent via email to health professionals (n = 197) affiliated with the Brazilian Public Health System (SUS), from December 2020 to September 2021, in a municipality located in the northeast of the state of São Paulo, Brazil. The variables of interest were sociodemographic characteristics and those related to the professionals' perception of oral health care during the pandemic and its impact on these workers' occupational safety. Descriptive statistics were performed, and the absolute and relative frequencies of quantitative variables were calculated, whereas lexical analysis was performed for textual content using the descending hierarchical classification (CHD). Out of the total sample, elective and urgent/emergency care was provided by 58.95% (n = 56); physical barriers were absent between the teams in 54.74% (n = 52); minimally invasive techniques were applied in 71.58% (n = 68); personal protective equipment (PPE) was replaced in 81.05% (n = 77) between appointments; and occupational safety was reported by 49.47% (n = 47). Textual analysis showed a decrease in appointments and consultations, with a longer interval between appointments. The professionals noticed changes in dental practices during the pandemic, mainly regarding the use of PPE, the type of treatment performed, the number of treated patients, and the greater time interval between consultations. The physical infrastructure of health units and the availability of PPE to patients needed some adjustments. A significant number of workers felt safe in providing dental care during the pandemic.

Sickness absenteeism of Primary Health Care professionals before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: to identify the frequency of occurrence of sickness absenteeism, according to the profile of Primary Health Care (PHC) professionals, and verify if there was an impact of the pandemic on absence duration and reason. METHODS: a cross-sectional study, from January/2019 to December/2020, with PHC professionals from a municipality in northeastern São Paulo. Descriptive statistics were performed, with frequency calculation. RESULTS: of the 977 PHC professionals, 633 (64.79%) used a medical certificate to justify their absence from work in 2019, and 837 (85.67%) in 2020. The main reason for leave was diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue in the two years. The mean duration of leave was 7.33 days (SD=17.33) in 2019 and 9.88 days (SD=16.05) in 2020. Nursing assistants were the ones who took the most leave in both years. CONCLUSIONS: there was an impact of the pandemic on absence duration and reason.

Sickness absenteeism of Primary Health Care professionals before and during the COVID-19 pandemic / Ausentismo-enfermedad de los profesionales de Atención Primaria de Salud antes y durante la pandemia de COVID-19 / Absenteísmo-doença dos profissionais da Atenção Primária à Saúde antes e durante a pandemia de COVID-19

ABSTRACT Objective: to identify the frequency of occurrence of sickness absenteeism, according to the profile of Primary Health Care (PHC) professionals, and verify if there was an impact of the pandemic on absence duration and reason. Methods: a cross-sectional study, from January/2019 to December/2020, with PHC professionals from a municipality in northeastern São Paulo. Descriptive statistics were performed, with frequency calculation. Results: of the 977 PHC professionals, 633 (64.79%) used a medical certificate to justify their absence from work in 2019, and 837 (85.67%) in 2020. The main reason for leave was diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue in the two years. The mean duration of leave was 7.33 days (SD=17.33) in 2019 and 9.88 days (SD=16.05) in 2020. Nursing assistants were the ones who took the most leave in both years. Conclusions: there was an impact of the pandemic on absence duration and reason.

RESUMEN Objetivo: identificar la frecuencia de ocurrencia del ausentismo-enfermedad, según el perfil de los profesionales de la Atención Primaria de Salud (APS), y verificar si hubo impacto de la pandemia en la duración y motivos de las ausencias. Métodos: estudio transversal, de enero/2019 a diciembre/2020, con profesionales de la APS de un municipio del nordeste del estado de São Paulo. Se realizó estadística descriptiva, con cálculo de frecuencia. Resultados: de los 977 profesionales de APS, 633 (64,79%) utilizaron el certificado médico para justificar su ausencia al trabajo en 2019 y 837 (85,67%) en 2020. El principal motivo de baja fue por enfermedades musculoesqueléticas y del tejido conectivo en los dos años. La duración media de la licencia fue de 7,33 días (DE=17,33) en 2019 y de 9,88 días (DE=16,05) en 2020. Los auxiliares de enfermería fueron los que más disfrutaron de licencia en ambos años. Conclusiones: hubo un impacto de la pandemia en la duración y motivos de las ausencias.

RESUMO Objetivo: identificar a frequência de ocorrência do absenteísmo-doença, de acordo com o perfil dos profissionais da Atenção Primária à Saúde (APS), e verificar se houve impacto da pandemia na duração e motivos dos afastamentos. Métodos: estudo transversal, no período de janeiro/2019 a dezembro/2020, com os profissionais de APS de um município do nordeste do estado de São Paulo. Realizou-se estatística descritiva, com cálculo de frequências. Resultados: dos 977 profissionais da APS, 633 (64,79%) utilizaram o atestado médico para justificar sua ausência no trabalho em 2019, e 837 (85,67%), em 2020. O principal motivo dos afastamentos foi as doenças osteomusculares e do tecido conjuntivo nos dois anos. A duração média dos afastamentos foi de 7,33 dias (DP=17,33) em 2019 e de 9,88 dias (DP=16,05) em 2020. Os auxiliares de enfermagem foram os que mais se afastaram em ambos os anos. Conclusões: houve impacto da pandemia na duração e motivos dos afastamentos.