Abstract The aim of this study was to verify the perception of the oral health team regarding work safety and aspects related to changes in dental practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. A descriptive, exploratory, quantitative, and qualitative cross-sectional study was conducted using an electronic questionnaire sent via email to health professionals (n = 197) affiliated with the Brazilian Public Health System (SUS), from December 2020 to September 2021, in a municipality located in the northeast of the state of São Paulo, Brazil. The variables of interest were sociodemographic characteristics and those related to the professionals’ perception of oral health care during the pandemic and its impact on these workers’ occupational safety. Descriptive statistics were performed, and the absolute and relative frequencies of quantitative variables were calculated, whereas lexical analysis was performed for textual content using the descending hierarchical classification (CHD). Out of the total sample, elective and urgent/emergency care was provided by 58.95% (n = 56); physical barriers were absent between the teams in 54.74% (n = 52); minimally invasive techniques were applied in 71.58% (n = 68); personal protective equipment (PPE) was replaced in 81.05% (n = 77) between appointments; and occupational safety was reported by 49.47% (n = 47). Textual analysis showed a decrease in appointments and consultations, with a longer interval between appointments. The professionals noticed changes in dental practices during the pandemic, mainly regarding the use of PPE, the type of treatment performed, the number of treated patients, and the greater time interval between consultations. The physical infrastructure of health units and the availability of PPE to patients needed some adjustments. A significant number of workers felt safe in providing dental care during the pandemic.

RESUMO Objetivo: identificar a frequência de ocorrência do absenteísmo-doença, de acordo com o perfil dos profissionais da Atenção Primária à Saúde (APS), e verificar se houve impacto da pandemia na duração e motivos dos afastamentos. Métodos: estudo transversal, no período de janeiro/2019 a dezembro/2020, com os profissionais de APS de um município do nordeste do estado de São Paulo. Realizou-se estatística descritiva, com cálculo de frequências. Resultados: dos 977 profissionais da APS, 633 (64,79%) utilizaram o atestado médico para justificar sua ausência no trabalho em 2019, e 837 (85,67%), em 2020. O principal motivo dos afastamentos foi as doenças osteomusculares e do tecido conjuntivo nos dois anos. A duração média dos afastamentos foi de 7,33 dias (DP=17,33) em 2019 e de 9,88 dias (DP=16,05) em 2020. Os auxiliares de enfermagem foram os que mais se afastaram em ambos os anos. Conclusões: houve impacto da pandemia na duração e motivos dos afastamentos.

ABSTRACT Objective: to identify the frequency of occurrence of sickness absenteeism, according to the profile of Primary Health Care (PHC) professionals, and verify if there was an impact of the pandemic on absence duration and reason. Methods: a cross-sectional study, from January/2019 to December/2020, with PHC professionals from a municipality in northeastern São Paulo. Descriptive statistics were performed, with frequency calculation. Results: of the 977 PHC professionals, 633 (64.79%) used a medical certificate to justify their absence from work in 2019, and 837 (85.67%) in 2020. The main reason for leave was diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue in the two years. The mean duration of leave was 7.33 days (SD=17.33) in 2019 and 9.88 days (SD=16.05) in 2020. Nursing assistants were the ones who took the most leave in both years. Conclusions: there was an impact of the pandemic on absence duration and reason.

RESUMEN Objetivo: identificar la frecuencia de ocurrencia del ausentismo-enfermedad, según el perfil de los profesionales de la Atención Primaria de Salud (APS), y verificar si hubo impacto de la pandemia en la duración y motivos de las ausencias. Métodos: estudio transversal, de enero/2019 a diciembre/2020, con profesionales de la APS de un municipio del nordeste del estado de São Paulo. Se realizó estadística descriptiva, con cálculo de frecuencia. Resultados: de los 977 profesionales de APS, 633 (64,79%) utilizaron el certificado médico para justificar su ausencia al trabajo en 2019 y 837 (85,67%) en 2020. El principal motivo de baja fue por enfermedades musculoesqueléticas y del tejido conectivo en los dos años. La duración media de la licencia fue de 7,33 días (DE=17,33) en 2019 y de 9,88 días (DE=16,05) en 2020. Los auxiliares de enfermería fueron los que más disfrutaron de licencia en ambos años. Conclusiones: hubo un impacto de la pandemia en la duración y motivos de las ausencias.