Prevalence and characteristics of new-onset pain in COVID-19 survivours, a controlled study.

BACKGROUND: We assessed whether COVID-19 is associated with de novo pain and de novo chronic pain (CP). METHODS: This controlled cross-sectional study was based on phone interviews of patients discharged from hospital after COVID-19 compared to the control group composed of individuals hospitalized during the same period due to non-COVID-19 causes. Patients were classified as having previous CP based on the ICD-11/IASP criteria, de novo pain (i.e. any new type of pain, irrespective of the pain status before hospital stay), and de novo CP (i.e. persistent or recurring de novo pain, lasting more than 3 months) after COVID-19. We assessed pain prevalence and its characteristics, including headache profile, pain location, intensity, interference, and its relationship with fatigue, and persistent anosmia. Forty-six COVID-19 and 73 control patients were included. Both groups had similar sociodemographic characteristics and past medical history. RESULTS: Length of in-hospital-stay and ICU admission rates were significantly higher amongst COVID-19 survivours, while mechanical ventilation requirement was similar between groups. Pre-hospitalisation pain was lower in COVID-19 compared to control group (10.9% vs. 42.5%; p = 0.001). However, the COVID-19 group had a significantly higher prevalence of de novo pain (65.2% vs. 11.0%, p = 0.001), as well as more de novo headache (39.1%) compared to controls (2.7%, p = 0.001). New-onset CP was 19.6% in COVID-19 patients and 1.4% (p = 0.002) in controls. These differences remained significant (p = 0.001) even after analysing exclusively (COVID: n = 40; controls: n = 34) patients who did not report previous pain before the hospital stay. No statistically significant differences were found for mean new-onset pain intensity and interference with daily activities between both groups. COVID-19 pain was more frequently located in the head/neck and lower limbs (p < 0.05). New-onset fatigue was more common in COVID-19 survivours necessitating inpatient hospital care (66.8%) compared to controls (2.5%, p = 0.001). COVID-19 patients who reported anosmia had more new-onset pain (83.3%) compared to those who did not (48.0%, p = 0.024). CONCLUSION: COVID-19 was associated with a significantly higher prevalence of de novo CP, chronic daily headache, and new-onset pain in general, which was associated with persistent anosmia. SIGNIFICANCE: There exists de novo pain in a substantial number of COVID-19 survivours, and some develop chronic pain. New-onset pain after the infection was more common in patients who reported anosmia after hospital discharge.

Cursinhos preparatórios para prova de residência médica: expectativas e opiniões / Preparatory courses for the medical residency test: expectations and opinions

A Residência Médica (RM) está consagrada como a melhor forma de inserção de médicos na vida profissional e de capacitação numa especialidade. Observa-se uma discrepância entre o número de formandos candidatos à RM e o número de vagas credenciadas. Nesse contexto, alunos do quinto e sexto anos sacrificam a graduação médica durante os estágios curriculares para se dedicarem aos Cursos Preparatórios (CPs) para a RM. Buscou-se conhecer as expectativas dos alunos de Medicina em relação à RM, bem como suas opiniões sobre o surgimento dos CPs. Foram aplicados questionários com oito perguntas objetivas a 70,83 por cento dos alunos do sétimo, oitavo e nono períodos da Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Todos afirmaram conhecer o método dos CPs; 76 por cento pretendem se matricular; dos que não têm essa intenção, 63,17 por cento, o principal motivo declarado é a falta de condições financeiras; 59,45 por cento desaprovam o método atual de avaliação para a RM. Conclui-se que é necessário adequar os atuais métodos de ensino da FM ao modelo das avaliações da RM. Os critérios para o ingresso na RM poderiam ser ajustados, contemplando as habilidades práticas. As FMs devem, continuamente, disponibilizar material didático atualizado, moderno e acessível a todos os alunos.

Medical Residency (MR) is known as the best form for a doctor to start his professional life and to developing his skills in a specialty. There is however a discrepancy between the number of graduate/ candidates for Medical Residency and the number of vacancies. In this context, students in the 5th and 6th years of Medical School are sacrificing their medical graduation during their internships to dedicate themselves to Preparatory Courses (PCs) for the Medical Residency. This study sought to investigate the expectations of the students with regard to RM as well as/ their opinion about the creation of the PCs. 70.83 percent of the students of the 7th, 8th and 9th semesters/ of the Medical School (MS) answered questionnaires with eight objective questions. They all stated to know the PC method; 76 percent/ intended to enroll; out of those who did not intend on to enroll, 63.17 percent claim that the/ main reason/ is poor financial conditions. 59.45 percent disapproves the current method of admission tests for MR. In conclusion, it is necessary to adapt the current teaching methods of the medical school to the model of admission tests for MR. The criteria for admission to MR should be adjusted, also considering the practical skills. The medical schools should always make inexpensive, up-to-date and modern educational material available to the students.

Avaliação da efetividade dos cursos preparatórios para residência médica / Evaluation of the effectiveness of preparatory courses for medical residency admission tests

No Brasil, há um déficit de vagas para Residência Médica (RM) e maior concorrência em determinadasespecialidades ou regiões, propiciando o crescimento dos Cursos Preparatórios (CPs) para provas de RM. Os acadêmicos, cada vez mais, deixam atividades curriculares em segundo plano e se matriculam nesses cursinhos. Mediante um questionário dirigido aos candidatos do concurso de RM do Hospital Universitário da Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora (HU-UFJF), realizou-se um estudo para avaliara efetividade da preparação de alunos em CPs. A adesão foi de 74,7% dos 368 concorrentes, sendo que a maioria freqüentou CPs (72%). Não houve diferença significativa de aprovação entre os candidatos que se prepararam em CPs e os que não os freqüentaram. Já a média das notas dos candidatos que freqüentaram CPs foi 4,07 pontos maior (66,89 contra 62,82, p < 0,05). Conclui-se que, no modelo tradicional de avaliação, cuja prova teórica corresponde a 90% da nota final, a preparação dos alunos que freqüentaramCPs é mais eficaz, o que enaltece a memorização em detrimento de habilidades médicas. Nesse contexto, pode-se considerar o modelo 50/50, em que a prova prática corresponde a 50% da nota final, uma proposta adequada.

In Brazil there are not enough vacancies for Medical Residency (MR) and a very high competition for vacancies in certain specialties and regions. This favors the establishment of Preparatory Courses (PCs) for MR tests. Medical students have been increasingly neglecting their curricular activities for enrolling in these Preparatory Courses. For evaluating the effectiveness of these courses, a questionnaire was applied to the candidates for MR at the University Hospital of Federal University of Juiz de Fora. 74.7% from the 368 applicants agreed to participate in the study, most of which (72%) were frequentingPCs. There was no significant difference in the rate of approval among the candidates who had prepared themselves in PCs and those who did not. On the other hand, the average grade of the candidates that took PCs was 4.07 points higher (66.89 versus 62.82, p < 0.05). It is concluded that in the traditional evaluation model, whose theoretical test corresponds to 90% of the final grade, the preparation of thestudents who took PCs is more effective, valuing memorization above medical abilities. Thus, the 50/50 model, in which the practical test corresponds to 50% of the final grade, can be considered an adequate proposal.