Oral lesions and alterations in truck drivers: prevalence and associated factors

Abstract

Objective: There are occupations at risk for the development of oral lesions and alterations, and truck drivers are an example of these professionals. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of oral lesions and alterations in truck drivers in the city of Caicó, Rio Grande do Norte (RN), Brazil, and its associated factors. Methodology: A cross-sectional, observational, exploratory, and descriptive study with 50 truck drivers, was performed at the main gas stations in Caicó, RN. Questionnaires were applied and clinical examinations were performed to identify oral lesions and alterations. Student's t-test for independent samples was applied. Spearman's Correlation test (r) was performed to analyze possible correlations between quantitative variables. In all tests, a significance level of 5% was considered. Results: Alcohol was the psychoactive substance most consumed by the study participants, in which 76% reported having a drinking habit. Among the evidenced oral lesions, inflammatory fibrous hyperplasia was the most prevalent (44.4%), and regarding developmental changes, lingual varicosities were the most common (33%). Professionals with a longer daily workload had a higher frequency of oral lesions. The longer the profession performed and the daily workload, the greater the consumption of tobacco. Conclusion: We emphasize the need to create public policies and actions focused on health prevention for this working-class, so that there is an improvement in the quality of life and that greater self-care is possible.