Hospital Dentist Practice in Perception of the Multiprofessional Health Team of a Reference Center in Oncology – Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: The hospital dentist practice is necessary for the integral attention to the hospitalized patient, contributes to the infection control and quality of care. Objective: to verify the perception of the multiprofessional health team of a Reference Center in Pediatric and Adult Hospital Oncology, about the dental practice in the care of hospitalized patients. Methodology: Prospective cross-sectional study conducted at the Reference Center for Pediatric and Adult Hospital Oncology, from May to September 2019, through the application of a semi-structured questionnaire, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil. Used Excel 2010 and statistical analysis, Pearson’s chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests were used, considering p ≤ 0.05. Results: a sample of 152 health professionals, of which 88.8% are female, 51.3% nursing, predominant age group between 40 and 69 years (60.6%) and 57.2% of professionals work in the Adult Hospital Oncology Center. In this study, 99.3% of the samples report being important or a dentist following and treating patients’ oral problems and 98% reported as oral diseases that can affect the patient’s overall health. Still 64.4% claim to be important or follow up before, during and after as antineoplastic therapies. In turn, 48% of the sample studied integration with a dental team as good, revealing the best members of the pediatric sector (p = 0.020). Conclusion: It is important for the dentist to be part of a team, providing assistance before, during and after antineoplastic therapies; It is necessary the performance of the dentist for the maintenance of oral health, because it is understood that oral health impacts on the restoration of general health. Further studies should be conducted with the importance of the theme addressed.