Oral health policies and decision-making process in Brazil, Colombia and Chile

Abstract Public health policies are crucial for the well-being of the general population; however, the health systems of developed countries still do not include oral health in its system. Thus, it is necessary to understand the process of decision-making in oral health policies to create opportunities for countries to achieve an overall positive health outcome, including oral health. This study aimed to identify the factors influencing the inclusion of oral health on the political agenda in Brazil, Colombia, and Chile. The study sample involved decision-makers at political, technical, and academic levels. The extracted data were analyzed using the software Maxqda® and Kingdon´s theoretical model; defining interactive variables that produce a "window of opportunity" to define the agenda and the insertion of theme in formulating public policies. The decision-making process regarding oral health is influenced by many factors like the need to improve the overall oral health of the population, identified through national epidemiological studies, and the importance of individuals in positions involving political decision-making, who advocate for oral health. Strategies were developed in partnership with the academy that focused on the health rights of the population provided by law; territorial and national programs were also developed. The inclusion and creation of oral health policies depend on actors who advocate for thematic and scientific evidence to support decision-making. A close relationship between academia and stakeholders and knowledge translation is important for the development of public policies that can be effective for health systems.

Compreensão do processo de implementação de Programas e Políticas de Saúde Bucal na América Latina / Understanding the implementation process of Oral Health Programs and Policies in Latin America

Introdução: As políticas em saúde pública são importantes para o bem-estar da população em geral, e a saúde bucal está inserida no contexto de saúde integral, desta forma os responsáveis por criarem as políticas e programas de saúde bucal são elementos chaves para a criação de políticas que visam melhorar a saúde da população de um país. Objetivos: Identificar como foi o processo de implementação das políticas de saúde bucal, no contexto do uso da evidência, agenda política e barreiras de implementação nos países envolvidos: Brasil, Colômbia e Chile. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo qualitativo com entrevistas presenciais com atores-chaves no processo de implementação em cada país, foi realizada análise de conteúdo e os dados foram categorizados com uso do Maxqda®. Resultados: Apesar dos países apresentarem sistemas de saúde diferentes, observou-se que durante o processo de implementação das políticas de saúde, o uso da evidência científica ainda é restrito e a participação da academia mostrou-se necessária para a elaboração das políticas de saúde. Em relação ao processo de inclusão na agenda, os resultados de estudos epidemiológicos tiveram um papel indutor, além da necessidade de atores chaves que advoguem a favor do tema. A principal barreiras citada pelos países é a formação do dentista, que ainda é voltada para o atendimento clínico individual e privado. Conclusão: Os formuladores de políticas devem compreender a importância da odontologia no sistema de saúde, a academia deve se aproximar da gestão de modo a informar as políticas para ser elaborada com uso da evidência cientifica e estimular a sensibilização dos futuros profissionais para este tema.

Brazilian Oral health teams in primary care and oral cancer: Results of a national evaluation

Abstract Oral cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers in Brazil. An understanding of how public policies are implemented to address this problem can contribute to the construction of solutions. The "Programa de Melhoria do Acesso e da Qualidade" (PMAQ-AB and PMAQ-CEO) at the level of primary and secondary care are evaluations that also collect data on prevention and monitoring strategies for oral cancer. This study aimed to analyze the results of the incorporation of oral health teams to evaluate the strategies adopted by Brazil regarding the impact on the diagnosis of oral cancer. Of the 17,202 family health teams evaluated, 72.10% had oral health teams (OHT). Considering the strategies for prevention, screening, campaign, and follow-up of suspected cases, 72.27% of the campaign teams and 59.09% of the teams who accompanied suspected cases had OHT. In secondary care, more than 65% of the teams in the Southeast and South regions registered cases of oral cancer, and the referral network was more represented. The inclusion of OHT had a positive impact on campaign actions, follow-up, referral to specialists, and registration of suspected cases throughout Brazil.

Teledentistry and the Unified Health System: An Important Tool for the Resumption of Primary Health Care in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract This paper describes the possibilities of using Teledentistry to expand and qualify health care in oral health care networks. WHO already recommended to its member countries, even before the pandemic, Telehealth as a strategy to improve the quality of services, especially in universal systems, as the Unified Health System (SUS). Teledentistry opens opportunities for oral health to resume the provision of various services, remotely, such as: 1) Tracking, active search, monitoring of priority users, those at risk and with systemic problems, suspicions of COVID-19 and contacts, through Telemonitation; 2) Initial listening, individual or collective educational activities, through Teleorientation; 3) Discussion of clinical cases for the definition of the opportunity / need for operative procedures, matrix support, sharing, solution of doubts among professionals and between these and teaching and research institutions, by Teleconsulting, among others. In addition to a review of Teledentistry in the context of the pandemic, we conceptualized the terms used and possibilities offered to SUS professionals, in addition to specifying the possible protocols for recording these activities to provide safe data for their monitoring and evaluation. Besides, we bring a brief discussion with promising experiences, carried out in the pre- and trans-pandemic contexts, which can be important strategies for the resumption of oral health in the post-pandemic scenario.