Prevalence of Orofacial Pain and Analgesic Use Between Health Students
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5335/rfo.v31i1.18206Keywords:
Orofacial pain, Analgesics, Self-medicationAbstract
Objective: To analyze the prevalence of orofacial pain and analgesic use between health science students. Methods: This is a cross-sectional observational study conducted with a hundred students from health science courses at a university in southern Brazil. The data collection was performed using a structured questionnaire containing fourteen questions related to the presence and characteristics of pain and medication use. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: A high prevalence of orofacial pain was observed, with the highest occurrence in the facial region. The pain was mainly classified as moderate and described as a sensation of pressure. Most participants do not search for professional care, with analgesics becoming the main relief strategy. The main triggering factors were stress and sleep deprivation. Conclusion: Orofacial pain has a high prevalence between health science students and is frequently associated with self-medication, what stands out the need for educational strategies for the rational use of medications.
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