Clinical and Research Activities of the Brazilian Productivity Fellows in Oral Medicine and Oral Pathology during the COVID-19 Era

Alison José  Martelli; Renato Assis  Machado; Daniella Reis Barbosa  Martelli; Danyel Elias da Cruz  Perez; Fábio Ramôa  Pires; Hercílio  Martelli Júnior

Authors

Alison José Martelli
Renato Assis Machado
Daniella Reis Barbosa Martelli
Danyel Elias da Cruz Perez
Fábio Ramôa Pires
Hercílio Martelli Júnior

Keywords:

COVID-19, Oral Medicine, Pathology, Oral, Research

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effect of the COVID-19 impacts on the activities of researchers in the field of Oral Medicine (OM) and Oral Pathology (OP). To assess the research activities and training of human resources by Brazilian productivity fellows in research (BPFR) in OM and OP in the COVID-19 Era . Material and Methods: Thirty-six BPFR in OM and OP areas, funded by National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), received a virtual structured questionnaire by e-mail, on the Google Forms (Google^®) platform, with questions regarding research activities and training of human resources (supervision of undergraduate and postgraduate students), during the COVID-19 pandemic. From the thirty-six BPFR in OM and OP, twenty-seven (75.0%) answered the questionnaire. Results: Most of them were males (n=20; 74.1%) and were distributed in four Brazilian regions and ten states of the federation, including the Federal District. Twenty-four (88.9%) BPFR reported having suspended clinical activities, while sixteen (59.3%) answered that histopathology practices are suspended. Twenty-five (92.6%) BPFR mentioned difficulties in conducting research projects and 55.5% stated having no difficulties in the supervision of undergraduates, master’s and PhD students . Conclusion: The current scenario may significantly impact the diagnosis of oral diseases in Brazil. Moreover, a decrease in the scientific production of BPFR in OM and OP in the coming years is also considered.

References

Fortunato S, Bergstrom CT, Bürnen K, Eyane JA, Helbing D, Milojevic S, et al. Science of science. Science 2018; 359(6379):1-21. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aao0185

Foundation NS. Research and Development: U.S. Trends and International Comparisons. Science and Engineering Indicators. Alexandria, VA, National Science Foundation. 2018.

Oliveira EA, Martelli Júnior H, Simões e Silva AC, Martelli DRB, Oliveira MCL. Science funding crisis in Brazil and COVID-19: deleterious impact on scientific output. An Acad Bras Cienc 2020; 92(4):e20200700. https://doi.org/10.1590/0001-376520202020200700

Andrade RS, Martelli DRB, Swerts MSO, Oliveira EA, Martelli Júnior H. Scientific production of the Brazilian Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) researchers in the field of Oral Medicine and Oral Pathology granted with a scientific productivity fellowship. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol 2018; 126(6):553-4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oooo.2018.07.057

Barata RB, Goldraum M. A profile of researchers in public health with productivity grants from the Brazilian National Research Council (CNPq). Cad Saude Publica 2003; 19(6):1863-76.

https://doi.org/10.1590/s0102-311x2003000600031

Mendes PHC, Martelli DRB, Souza WPD, Quirino Filho S, Martelli Júnior H. Profile of scientific productivity scholarship researchers in medicine at CNPq, Brazil. Rev Bras Educ Med 2010; 34(4):535-41. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0100-55022010000400008

Santos NCF, Cândido LFDO, Kuppens CL. Research productivity of cnpq: analysis of the chemistry researchers' profile. Química Nova 2010; 33(2):489-95. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0100-40422010000200044

Oliveira EA, Colosimo EA, Martelli DR, Quirino IG, Oliveira MCL, Lima LS, et al. Comparison of Brazilian researchers in clinical medicine: are criteria for ranking well-adjusted?. Scientometrics 2012; 90(2):429-43. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-011-0492-9

Dias GP, Martelli DRB, de Almeida LB, Barbosa GA, Oliveira EA, Martelli Júnior H. Scientific production of the Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) researchers in the fields of tropical medicine and infectious diseases. Rev Soc Bras Med Trop 2019; 52:e20190034.

https://doi.org/10.1590/0037-8682-0034-2019

De Andrade RS, Martelli DRB, Almeida OP, Lopes MA, Swerts MSO, Pires FR, et. al. Brazilian scientific production in Oral Medicine and Oral Pathology. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol 2018; 125(2):170-81. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oooo.2017.08.009

Simões E, Silva AC, Oliveira EA, Martelli HJR. Coronavirus disease pandemic is a real challenge for Brazil. Front Public Health 2020; 8:268. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2020.00268

Chaudhr YR, Dranitsaris G, Mubashir T, Bartoszko J, Riazi S. A country level analysis measuring the impact of government actions, country preparedness and socioeconomic factors on COVID-19 mortality and related health outcomes. E Clin Med 2020; 25:100464. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2020.100464

Nussbaumer-Streit B, Mary V, Dobrescu AI, Chapman A, Persad E, Klerings I, et al. Quarantine alone or in combination with other public health measures to control COVID-19: a rapid review. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2020; 4(4):CD013574. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD013574

Martelli H, Machado RA, Martelli DRB, Della Coletta R. Oral medicine, oral pathology and coronavirus (2019-nCoV). Braz J Oral Sci 2020; 19:e200001. https://doi.org/10.20396/bjos.v19i0.8658890

Machado RA, De Souza NL, Oliveira RM, Martelli Júnior H, Bonan PRF. Social media and telemedicine for oral diagnosis and counselling in the COVID-19 era. Oral Oncol 2020; 105:104685. https://doi.org/10.20396/bjos.v19i0.8658890

Martelli Júnior H, Martelli DR, Silva ACSE, Oliveira MCL, Oliveira EA. Brazil's endangered postgraduate system. Science 2019; 363(6424):240. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aav9015

Oliveira MC, Martelli DR, Pinheiro SV, Miranda DM, Quirino IG, Leite BG, et. al. Profile and scientific production of Brazilian National Council of Technological and Scientific Development researchers in Pediatrics. Rev Paul Pediatr 2013; 31(3):278-84. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0103-05822013000300002

Martelli-Júnior H, Martelli DRB, Quirino IG, Oliveira MCLA, Lima LS, Oliveira EAD. CNPq researchers in the field of medicine: comparison of the areas of activity. Rev Assoc Med Bras 2010; 56(4):478-83. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0104-42302010000400024

Sturmer G, Viero CC, Silveira MN, Lukrafka JL, Plentz RD. Profile and scientific output analysis of physical therapy researchers with research productivity fellowship from the Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development. Braz J Phys Ther 2013; 17(1):41-8.

https://doi.org/10.1590/S1413-35552012005000068

Mombasa WDS, Padoin SMDM, Lacerda MR, Gueterres ÉC. Profile of scholarship researchers in nursing research productivity. Rev Enfer 2015; 9:844-50.

Arntz M, Yahmed SB, Berlingieri F. Working from home and COVID-19: The chances and risks for gender gaps. Intereconomics 2020; 55(6):381-6. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10272-020-0938-5

Malhotra A, Mather M. Do schooling and work empower women in developing countries? Gender and domestic decisions in Sri Lanka. Sociol Forum 1997; 12:599-630. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022126824127

Sales GH, Martelli DRB, Oliveira EA, Dias VO, Oliveira MCLA, Martelli Júnior H. Evaluation on the scientific production in fields of medicine: a comparative study. Rev Bras Educ Med 2017; 41(2):290-8. https://doi.org/10.1590/1981-52712015v41n2rb20160099

Wendt GW, Lisboa CSDM, De Sousa DA, Koller SH. Profile of researchers in Psychology with productivity grants from Brazil's national council of technologiocal and scientific development (CNPQ). Psicol Cienc Prof 2013; 33(3):536. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1414-98932013000300003

De Matthews D, Knight D, Reyes P, Benedict A, Callahan R. From the field: education research during a pandemic. Educ Res 2020; 49(6):398-402. https://doi.org/10.3102/0013189X20938761

Martelli-Júnior H, Machado RA, Bonan PRF, Perez DEC, Pires FR, Alves FA. Brazilian oral medicine and oral pathology: we are here during the COVID-19 pandemic. Oral Dis 2020; 27(s3):757-9. https://doi.org/10.1111/odi.13440

Machado RA, Bonan PRF, Martelli PJL, Alves FA, Martelli Junior H. Brazilian oral medicine and oral histopathology services: the worrying reality in the COVID-19 Era. Oral Dis 2020; 2020. https://doi.org/10.1111/odi.13624

Araújo ALD, do Amaral-Silva GK, Pérez-de-Oliveira ME, Gallagher KPD, López de Cáceres CVB, Roza ALOC, et al. Fully digital pathology laboratory routine and remote reporting of oral and maxillofacial diagnosis during the COVID-19 pandemic: a validation study. Virchows Arch 2021; 13:1-11.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s00428-021-03075-9

Cunha AR, Antunes JLF, Martins MD, Petti S, Hugo FN. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on oral biopsies in the Brazilian National Health System. Oral Dis 2020; 2020. https://doi.org/10.1111/odi.13620

Gueiros LA, Melo TS, Carrard VC. A simple tool to a complex reality-whatsapp use in a developing country during COVID-19 pandemic. Oral Dis 2021; 27(Suppl 3):796-7. https://doi.org/10.1111/odi.13495

Villa A, Sankar V, Shiboski C. Tele(oral)medicine: a new approach during the COVID-19 crisis. Oral Dis 2021; 27(Suppl 3):744-5. https://doi.org/10.1111 / odi.13364

Marques NP, da Silveira DMML, Martelli PJL, Martelli DRB, de Lucena EHG, Martelli-Júnior H. Brazilian Oral Medicine and public health system: The enormous impact of the COVID-19 Era. Oral Dis 2020; 2020. https://doi.org/10.1111/odi.13677

Martelli AJ, Machado RA, Pereira WM, Silveira DMM, da Cruz Perez DE, Martelli Júnior H. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the head and neck cancer treatment in the Brazil. Oral Oncol 2021; 116:105148. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oraloncology.2020.105148.

Pardo JC, Ramon D, Stefanelli-Silva G, Elegbede I, Lima LS, Principe SC. Advancing through the pandemic from the perspective of marine graduate researchers: challenges, solutions, and opportunities. Front Mar Sci 2020; 7:528. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2020.00528