Banca de DEFESA: MARIANA RIOS BERTOLDO

Presence of headache and the use of personal protective equipment in dentists and doctors in Rio Grande do Norte during COVID-19

COVID-19; Coronavirus; Headache; Personal protective equipment; Health care workers

Introduction: Introduction: The alertness caused by the disease of the new Coronavirus (COVID-19) can negatively impact the health of individuals. Health professionals are exposed to contamination by the virus, especially dental surgeons and doctors, due to their frequent performance, very close to the patient. It is known that headache may be related to individual protective equipment (EPIS) used in the daily lives of these professionals. Objective: The present study seeks to evaluate the presence of headache and the use of personal protective equipment in Dental Surgeons and Doctors in Rio Grande do Norte. Methodology: An observational, analytical and cross-sectional study was carried out with dental surgeons and doctors invited to participate in the survey via electronic messages through Google forms about signs and symptoms, through the questionnaire for headache (Questionnaire of headaches associated with equipment personal protection - Adapted). For statistical analysis the data were gathered in a database created in the program Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) 22.0. Pearson and Fischer Chi-square tests were performed to cross the variables, with a 95% confidence interval. Results: The study sample consisted of 181 professionals, being 23.2% doctors (n = 42) and 76.8% dental surgeons (n = 139), 34.8% (n = 63) male and 65.2 % (n = 118) of the female gender. 84% (n = 152) of the professionals worked in an outpatient setting. 43.6% of professionals (n = 79) reported a positive response to headache, with female participants being more likely to develop headache (p <0.01). An increase in the use of EPIS (87.3% n = 158) (p = 0.183), use of facial masks with glasses or visors (96.7% n = 175), (p = 0.234) or N95 or PFF- masks 2 (88.4% n = 160) (p = 0.062) were not related to headache. However, its use for 5 hours or more (58.6% n = 106) (p <0.01) was statistically significant. Reports of bilateral headaches, pain in the parietal and temporal region and throughout the head, quality of pain, time interval and intensity, were significant for the development of headache due to the use of PPE.Conclusions: Based on our study, the increased use of PPE did not statistically influence headache. In addition, it was observed that the type of mask used did not influence the reports of headache. Still, when analyzed on the length of time the PPE was used, there was an increase in reports of headache in those professionals who used them for about five hours or more.