Ansiedade em cirurgiões-dentistas brasileiros durante a pandemia da covid-19: um estudo de corte-transversal

Abstract

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic caused financial impacts and brought changes in the way dentistry is practiced. In this context, dentists are exposed to virus contamination during their work routine, in addition to the risk of developing mental disorders such as anxiety due to the scenario brought by the pandemic. Objective: To determine the prevalence and identify factors associated with anxiety among dentists in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil, between November 2020 and February 2021. Methods: Cross-sectional study carried out with 408 Brazilian dentists who completed a Google form® questionnaire from November 2020 to February 2021, using the snowball technique. Socioeconomic variables related to COVID-19 and aspects related to quality of life related to health and anxiety were collected. Anxiety symptoms were measured by the Beck Anxiety Inventory and health-related quality of life was assessed by the WHOQOL-Bref. Differences in proportions between groups were assessed using the chi-square test or Fisher's test when indicated, and differences in group means according to the presence or absence of anxiety were assessed using t-tests. The reliability of each WHOQOL-BREF domain was calculated using Cronbach's alpha and Poisson regression was used to obtain estimates of prevalence ratios. Results: The prevalence of anxiety was significantly higher among dentists who reported that: the high cost of personal protective equipment (PPE) can hamper the functioning of dental services during the COVID 19 pandemic (PR = 2.15; P = 0.011); reported sweating, wheezing and increased heart rate during work (PR = 3.67); they felt safe using PPE at work (PR = 1.84) and were afraid of contracting COVID-19 (P = 2.52; P < 0.001). Afro-descendant dentists were 48% more anxious than white/yellow dentists. The model also estimated that anxious dentists have a 13% lower mean physical domain value (PR = 0.87; IC95 0.81-0.93); Mean value of the psychological domain 12% lower (PR = 0.88; 95%CI 0.82-0.95) and mean value of the social relationship domain 7% higher (PR = 1.07; 95%CI 1.02-1, 12) than not anxious dentists. Conclusion: Issues such as the high cost of PPE, the feeling of insecurity even when using PPE and the lack of support from other dentists or health professionals were factors associated with the increased prevalence of anxiety. Age, income, and social distance imposed by the pandemic caused significant impacts on the quality of life of dentists, especially in physical and psychological issues. Disparities were identified regarding race and anxiety in the researched group.