Quality of life in dentistry students in the pandemic of COVID-19: a multicentric study

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to assess the quality of life (QOL) of dental students in the 2019 Coronavirus Disease pandemic (COVID-19). A cross-sectional study was carried out with undergraduate students in Dentistry from Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the state of Ceara, Brazil. Data collection took place in May 2020, online, using questionnaires with sociodemographic, course-related and behavioral variables, in addition to the World Health Organization Questionnaire for Quality of Life-bref (WHOQOL-bref). Multinomial logistic regression was performed. 864 students participated in this study. Variables such as higher income (p = 0.034), having religion (p = 0.010), having health insurance (p = 0.005), satisfaction with sleep quality (p < 0.001), absence of insomnia (p < 0.001) and practicing physical activity always (p < 0.001) were associated with greater satisfaction regarding QOL. The QoL of dental students was classified in the dissatisfaction category, being perhaps impacted by the pandemic of COVID-19. Variables that reflected a more economically favorable living condition were associated with satisfaction with the quality of life of this public in the COVID-19 pandemic.