The Prevalence of Dermatoses Among Resident Doctors and Medical Students During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objectives: To verify the prevalence of dermatoses in resident doctors during the period recruited for the COVID-19 pandemic and also compare it to medical students. Methods: Cross-sectional study using a convenience sample of resident doctors and medical students during the period from March 1, 2020 to February 28, 2022. We used statistical significance values <0.05 and confidence interval of 95%. Results: Ninety-four individuals were recruited, 47 in each group. The average age was 27.6 and 22.8 years in the resident doctors group and medical students group, respectively and with a statistical difference between them (p=0.001), with a male predominance in the resident doctors group (53.2% vs. 38.3 %). The three most prevalent dermatoses in the resident doctors group were contact dermatitis of the hands (46.8%), acne (42.5%) and telogen effluvium (38.2%), but with no statistical difference with the medical students group. Post-inflammatory hyperchromia of the face was the fifth most prevalent, with a statistical difference between the groups (17.0% vs. 2.1%, p=0.030). Conclusion: Resident doctors´ dermatoses were more related to contact dermatitis on the hands, acne and telogen effluvium, in addition to post-inflammatory hyperchromia on the face. Hand contact dermatitis was related to hygiene habits and facial post-inflammatory hyperchromia was related to the use of personal protective equipment.