Transtornos mentais comuns e qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde mental em trabalhadores das equipes de saúde bucal

Abstract

Dental surgeons (DS) and Oral Health Assistants (OHA) of the Oral Health Teams (OHT) working in Primary Health Care (PHC) of the Unified Health System (SUS) are exposed to occupational risks, inadequate working conditions and harmful to their physical and mental health, and quality of life. The present study aimed to estimate the prevalence of Common Mental Disorders (CMD), evaluate the Mental Health-related Quality of Life, and describe the sociodemographic and occupational profile of OHT workers who work in the Primary Health Care of SUS. This is a cross-sectional, descriptive study with 185 workers from the OHT of the PHC from municipalities of the metropolitan region, Salvador-Bahia. A self-administered and structured questionnaire comprising sociodemographic, occupational, and lifestyle characteristics, the Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20), and 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey questionnaire (SF36v2) was used to estimate CMD and to assess the mental health related quality of life. We included 161 professionals, 96 (59.6%) Dental Surgeons (DS), and 65 (40.4%) Oral Health Assistants (OHA). There was a predominance of female professionals, with stable relationships, auto declared black/brown, non-smokers, with the frequent practice of physical exercise, with temporary work based on the Brazilian Law (CLT), working ≤ 40 hours. The average of the total SRQ-20 score was higher in the DS when compared to the OHA (P = 0.032). All domains of mental health-related quality of life, and the mental health component were systematically lower in DS compared to OHA, being statistically significant (P <0.05). The SRQ-20 domains (Depressed / anxious mood, Somatic symptoms, and Vital energy decrease), showed a high negative correlation with the mental health domains of the SF 36v2 and with the Mental Component. The presence of CMD was strongly associated with mental health-related quality of life domains. The results obtained in this study showed that the presence of CMD negatively affects the mental health-related quality of life. This important variable can compromise the professional performance and social relationships of OHT. There is a need to outline strategies to promote mental health and quality of life for OHT workers.