ABSTRACT
Background: The loss of health workers through death is of great importance and interest to the public, media and the medical profession as it has very profound social and professional consequences on the delivery of health services. Objective: To describe the profile, causes and patterns of death among medical doctors and dental surgeons in Uganda between 1986 and 2016. Methods: We conducted a retrospective descriptive study of mortality among registered medical doctors and dental surgeons. Information on each case was collected using a standard questionnaire and analyzed. Cause of death was determined using pathology reports, and if unavailable, verbal autopsies. We summarized our findings across decades using means and standard deviations, proportions and line graphs as appropriate. Cuzick's test for trend was used to assess crude change in characteristics across the three decades. To estimate the change in deaths across decades adjusted for age and sex, we fit a logistic regression model, and used the margins command with a dy/dx option. All analyses were done in Stata version 14.0 (Stata Corp, College Station, TX). Results: There were 489 deaths registered between 1986 and 2016. Of these, 59 (12.1%) were female. The mean age at death was 48.8 years (Standard Deviation (SD) 15.1) among male and 40.1 years (SD 12.8) among females. We ascertained the cause of death for 468/489 (95.7%). The most common causes of death were HIV/AIDS (218/468, 46.6%), cancer (68/468, 14.5%), non-communicable diseases (62/48, 13.3%), alcohol related deaths (36, 7.7%), road traffic accidents (34, 7.3%), gunshots (11, 2.4%), among others. After adjusting for age and sex, HIV/AIDs attributable deaths decreased by 33 percentage points between the decade of 1986 to1995 and that of 2006 to 2016 0.33 (0.44, 0.21. During the same period, cancer attributable deaths increased by 13 percentage periods 0.13 (0.05,0.20). Conclusion: The main causes of death were HIV/AIDS, cancer, non-communicable diseases, alcohol-related diseases and road traffic accidents. There was a general downward trend in the HIV/AIDS related deaths and a general upward trend in cancer related deaths. Doctors should be targeted for preventive and support services especially for both communicable and non-communicable diseases
Subject(s)
Physician Assistants , Health Profile , Cause of Death , Community Health Workers , Death , Uganda , SurgeonsABSTRACT
ABSTRACT Objectives: to identify the evidence available in the literature on the knowledge of dentists regarding risk factors and early diagnosis of oral and oropharyngeal cancer. Methods: it is an integrative review of the literature. Boolean descriptors and operators were searched in the PubMed and LILACS databases, using gray literature, in English, Spanish and Portuguese. Results: of the 79 PubMed and 152 LILACS articles, 24 were selected. Of these, eight showed good knowledge of dentists, while most showed low or little knowledge of risk factors and early diagnosis in dentists. All studies, however, highlight the need for continuing education to improve and maintain knowledge about risk factors and early diagnosis. Conclusions: most dental surgeons have insufficient knowledge of oral/oropharyngeal cancer. Continued education is suggested, aiming at improving knowledge and early diagnosis.
RESUMEN Objetivos: identificar evidencias disponibles en la literatura sobre el conocimiento de los quirúrgicos dentistas cuanto a los factores de riesgo y diagnóstico precoz del cáncer de boca/ orofaríngeo. Métodos: revisión integrativa de la literatura. Se realizaron búsquedas mediante los descriptores y operadores booleanos en base de datos PubMed y LILACS, con uso de literatura gris, en los idiomas inglés, español y portugués. Resultados: de los 79 artículos del PubMed y 152 del LILACS, 24 seleccionados. De estos, ocho mostraron bueno conocimiento de los dentistas, mientras la mayoría mostró bajo o poco conocimiento sobre factores de riesgo y diagnóstico precoz en dentistas. Todos los estudios, aunque, destacan la necesidad de educación continuada para mejorar y mantener el conocimiento sobre factores de riesgo y diagnóstico precoz. Conclusiones: gran parte de los quirúrgicos dentistas presenta un conocimiento insuficiente sobre cáncer de boca/orofaríngeo. Sugerida educación continuada, objetivando mejorar el conocimiento y el diagnóstico precoz.
RESUMO Objetivos: identificar as evidências disponíveis na literatura sobre o conhecimento dos cirurgiõesdentistas quanto aos fatores de risco e diagnóstico precoce do câncer de boca e orofaringe. Métodos: trata-se de uma revisão integrativa da literatura. Foram realizadas buscas mediante os descritores e operadores booleanos na base de dados PubMed e LILACS, com uso de literatura cinza, nos idiomas inglês, espanhol e portugês. Resultados: dos 79 artigos do PubMed e 152 do LILACS, 24 foram selecionados. Destes, oito mostraram bom conhecimento dos dentistas, enquanto a maioria mostrou baixo ou pouco conhecimento sobre fatores de risco e diagnóstico precoce em dentistas. Todos os estudos, no entanto, destacam a necessidade de educação continuada para melhorar e manter o conhecimento sobre fatores de risco e diagnóstico precoce. Conclusões: grande parte dos cirurgiões-dentistas apresenta um conhecimento insuficiente sobre câncer de boca/orofaringe. É sugerida a educação continuada, visando melhorar o conhecimento e o diagnóstico precoce.
Subject(s)
Humans , Mouth Neoplasms , Oropharyngeal Neoplasms , Surgeons , Mouth Neoplasms/etiology , Risk Factors , KnowledgeABSTRACT
Este trabalho consiste em uma pesquisa realizada sobre a utilização de líquidos irrigantes por cirurgiões dentistas na cidade de Itabuna-BA. Para isto, delimitou-se a seguinte problemática: quais são as escolhas dos líquidos irrigantes nos tratamentos endodônticos com o intuito de promover uma total desinfecção dos canais radiculares? E como objetivo geral, elucidar sobre as escolhas dos cirurgiões dentistas localizados na cidade de Itabuna-Bahia em relação as substâncias utilizadas como coadjuvantes no tratamento endodôntico durante a etapa de irrigação. A pesquisa teve uma abordagem qualitativa e foi utilizado o instrumento questionário com cem dentistas da cidade selecionada. Este questionário consistia em oito perguntas, dentre elas qual irrigante utilizado e a porcentagem do mesmo. Com relação aos resultados, pode-se afirmar que no tratamento endodôntico, o hipoclorito de sódio continua sendo a solução irrigante de escolha entre os profissionais, diferentes concentrações de soluções de hipoclorito de sódio são empregadas durante o preparo biomecânico, por endodontistas e clínicas gerais que praticam a endodontia, não existindo uma unanimidade quanto a escolha, nenhum acordo existe em relação a sua concentração ideal(AU)
This work consists of a research carried out on the use of irrigating liquids by dental surgeons in the city of Itabuna-BA. For this, the following problem was defined: what are the choices of irrigating liquids in endodontic treatments in order to promote a total disinfection of the root canals? And as a general objective, elucidate about the choices of dentists located in the city of Itabuna-Bahia in relation to the substances used as adjuvants in endodontic treatment during the irrigation stage. The research had a qualitative approach and the questionnaire was used with 100 dentists in the selected city. This questionnaire consisted of eight questions, including which irrigant was used and the percentage of it. Regarding the results, it can be said that in endodontic treatment, sodium hypochlorite remains the irrigating solution of choice among professionals, different concentrations of sodium hypochlorite solutions are used during biomechanical preparation by endodontists and general practitioners who practice endodontics, there is no unanimity as to the choice, no agreement exists regarding their ideal concentration(AU)
Subject(s)
Root Canal Irrigants , Root Canal Preparation , Sodium Hypochlorite , Chlorhexidine , Edetic Acid , Malicum AcidumABSTRACT
Aims and Objectives: This study aims to assess the attitude and awareness of radiation protection among dental surgeons in South Chennai.Materials and Methods: The study participants comprised 150 dental practitioners (general and specialty) in South Chennai. The information was collected from each participant through structured questionnaires regarding attitude and awareness toward radiation protection. Pearson’s correlation coefficient test was used to assess the validity and reliability of questionnaire, and any P≤ 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.Results: Of all the 150 dentists enrolled in the study, 69% of dental surgeons considered X-ray films as an image receptor. However, majority of the dentists (73%) failed to acquire informed consent of the patient before prescribing dental radiograph. While majority of dentists were unaware of position and distance rule (54%) and 46% were aware of the rule, it was also found that 59% of dental surgeons did not use film-holding device and only 41% used film-holding device. Majority of them (59%) were aware of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) certification and 41% were unaware of AERB, 15% of them hold the cone during exposure.Conclusion: The current study shows the utmost need for further implementation of radiation protection principle among dental surgeons in South Chennai. Majority of them did not practice radiation protection procedures. Emphasis on radiation safety is mandatory for continuing professional education and the development of radiographic selection criteria should be recommended.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Head and neck tumors are in the 9º place among the most frequent cancers in the world, being the incidence of 700,000 new cases per year. To suspect and to diagnose early the cancer implies to know well the subject. The questionnaire is a good instrument for measuring knowledge. Objective: To provide an item bank, calibrated by the Item Response Theory (IRT), to evaluate the "knowledge about head and neck cancer", in any respondent, in order to benefit the studies on this construct, in the area of health education. Methods: To evaluate the "knowledge about head and neck cancer", we started with a scale already calibrated by the IRT, with 24 items for schoolchildren (n = 2,006). A further 29 items of equal difficulty were created (n = 994 schoolchildren). Then, 60 new items, of equal construct and greater difficulty (n = 883 dentistry professionals) were incorporated into this scale. Results: The analysis of 2,847 responses resulted in a bank with 113 items on head and neck cancer calibrated by IRT and arranged on a skill scale. Conclusion: From this collection of items, different questionnaires can be set up according to the skill level of the respondent. The results of the evaluations, in single or distinct moments, can be compared since the items are on the same scale of ability.
ABSTRACT
Background & Objective: The prevention and control of tobacco use is an emerging issue of global significance and of central importance to oral health and dental care. The dental profession is in an excellent position to play a major role in several emerging issues, such as helping the public and policymakers understand the chronic nature of tobacco dependence and supporting cessation services for all people. Objective is to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices of dental surgeons in Kanpur city towards tobacco cessation. Methodology: A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted among dental surgeons by using self-administered questionnaire with23 closed-ended questions. A total of100 dental practitioners who fulfilled the eligibility criteria, participated in the study. Out of this 85 people returned the filled questionnaire form and the response rate was 85%. Descriptive statistics included computation of percentages. Results: Most of the respondents were male (80%) and had practiced dentistry for 5-10 years (91.8%). All the respondents (100%) had the knowledge of harmful effects of tobacco use. A less percentage (8.3%) used tobacco themselves. All the respondents (100%) did not maintain any records on tobacco use. Most of the respondents (82.4%) provided information on harmful effects of tobacco to less than thirty percent of the patients. Only 48.2% dental surgeons advised users to quit. Conclusion: The results of this study call for sensitizing health professionals on a larger scale on the issue of tobacco use and its treatment.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Daily clinical activities in dental operatory expose dental surgeons to varied forms of ocular events. The purpose of the study was to determine the prevalence and pattern of ocular splashes and foreign bodies among dental surgeons in Nigeria. METHODS: This questionnaire-based cross-sectional of dental surgeons in Southern Nigeria was conducted between September 2010 and August 2011. The information elicited were demography, experience and type of ocular event, implicated dental procedure and action taken. RESULTS: Of the 185 studied, 148 of them responded. Of these 148 respondents, 56 (37.8%) reported foreign body, 18 (12.2%) splash, 33 (22.3%) both foreign body and splash while 41 (27.7%) reported no ocular event. It therefore means that the overall prevalence of ocular events among the respondents was 107 (72.3%). The prevalence of ocular events was significantly associated with age (p = 0.014), years of practice (p = 0.033) and safety eye goggle use (p = 0.023). The main dental procedures implicated in the ocular events among the respondents were scaling 77 (72.0%), tooth/cavity preparation 17 (15.9%), polishing 11 (10.3%) and forcep tooth extraction 10 (9.3%). The major implicated aetiological agents in the ocular events were calculus 74 (69.2%), saliva 29 (27.1%), mixed blood & saliva 19 (17.8%), tooth particles 15 (14.0%) and blood 9 (8.4%). The predominant action taken by the respondents was to rinse the eye under running water 89 (83.2%). CONCLUSION: Ocular splash and foreign body events are high among dental surgeons in Nigeria. Age, years of practice and safety eye goggles wear were also found to be associated with ocular events. Eye safety awareness is therefore deemed a necessity for dental surgeon in Southern Nigeria.
Subject(s)
Calculi , Data Collection , Demography , Eye Protective Devices , Foreign Bodies , Nigeria , Prevalence , Running , Saliva , Surgical Instruments , Tooth , Tooth Extraction , WaterABSTRACT
El objetivo del trabajo fue realizar una revisión de los procesos judiciales que involucran demandas de responsabilidad civil interpuestas contra cirujanos-dentistas en el Forum de Ribeirão Preto, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Fue realizada una búsqueda nominalde profesionales y clínicas, debidamente inscritos en el Consejo Regional de Odontología de São Paulo, involucrados en procesos civiles en el municipio de Ribeirão Preto - São Paulo. Como resultado fue observado un significativo aumento (73,3%) en el número de demandas presentadas en los últimos cinco años, siendo la especialidad de prótesis dental (35,6%) la más involucrada. Se puede concluir que es importante el conocimiento por parte del profesional en cuanto al aumento de divergencias en la relación profesional/paciente y algunas medidas son necesariaspara su prevención, para que los cirujanos-dentistas busquen una práctica profesional más segura.
The objective of this study was to conduct a review of the legal proceedings involving liability lawsuits filed against dentists in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil. A search was carried out of professionals duly registered with the Regional Council of Dentistry of São Paulo seeking professionals and clinics involved in civil proceedings in Ribeirão Preto - São Paulo. The results noted a significant increase (73.3%) in the number of lawsuits filed in the last five years, with the specialty in dental prostheses (35.6%) being the most frequent. It can be concluded that it is important for professionals to have information in reference to the increasing number of lawsuits in professional/patient relationship and that prevention measures are necessary for a safer dental practice.
ABSTRACT
Introdução - O câncer é responsável por mais de 12% de todas as causas de óbito no mundo, chegando a matar mais de 7 milhões de pessoas por ano. Suspeitar e diagnosticar precocemente o câncer implica em conhecimento relativamente básico sobre o assunto. O questionário é um bom instrumento para medição do conhecimento, e pode ser validado pela Teoria da Resposta ao Item - TRI. O objetivo deste trabalho foi a criação de um instrumento para avaliar o conhecimento sobre o câncer de cabeça e pescoço em diferentes níveis de habilidade. Metodologia: Neste trabalho, inicialmente, foram criados 32 itens para avaliar o conhecimento sobre o câncer de cabeça e pescoço, os quais, antes de serem aplicados a escolares do 3º. Ano do Ensino Médio (n=994), foram incorporados a 24 outros itens, sobre o mesmo construto e população alvo semelhante (n= 1012). Esses itens haviam sido calibrados pela TRI, pelo modelo logístico unidimensional de 3 parâmetros, gerando uma escala (0,1), pela função de informação do item. Durante o processo de incorporação, três itens foram eliminados, restando 53 itens, para esta população. Posteriormente, ainda neste trabalho, 68 novos itens foram criados, sob o mesmo construto, e aplicados aos graduandos dos últimos anos do Curso de Odontologia (n=95) e a cirurgiões dentistas (n=284), totalizando 379 respondentes. Esses 68 itens também foram calibrados naquela mesma escala (0,1), com 2385 respondentes. Resultados: Após a análise, 60, daqueles 68 itens foram mantidos, que somados aos 53 itens iniciais, formaram um questionário com 113 itens sobre câncer de cabeça e pescoço calibrados pela TRI. Também está apresentada a sequência metodológica do processo de incorporação dos itens em uma mesma escala de habilidade. Conclusão: Ainda que um construto não possa ser explorado em sua plenitude semântica, a elaboração desse instrumento, para medir o conhecimento sobre o câncer de cabeça e pescoço, foi fruto de exaustiva análise, por isso, acreditamos que esse...
Introduction - Cancer is responsible for over 12% of all causes of death in the world, killing more than 7 million people a year. Early detection and early diagnose cancer implies in basic knowledge on the subject. The questionnaire is a good tool for measuring knowledge, and can be validated by the Item Response Theory - IRT. The aim of this study was to build a tool to assess the knowledge of head and in different level of ability. Methodology: At the beginning 32 items were designed to assess knowledge of head and neck cancer. Before being applied to 3rd High School Students (n=994) these items were joint to 24 others items over the same construct and the same population(n=1012). The previous items had being calibrated by IRT, by parameters of one-dimensional logistic model, getting a scale (0,1) by information function of the item. Over the incorporation process three items were eliminated, coming 53 items for the same population. Further, still in the same study 68 new items, over the same construct and applied to undergraduates of the last years of the Dental School (n-95) and to dental Surgeon (n-284) with a total of 379 respondents. The 68 items were also designed and calibrated in the same scale (o,1), now with a total of 2385 respondents. Results: After the analysis, 60 of the 68 items were kept and added to the previous 53 items and they comprise a questionnaire with 113 items on head and neck cancer calibrated by IRT. This study also presents the methodological sequence of the incorporation process of items in the same scale of ability. Conclusion: Although a construct cannot be totally exploited, the elaboration of this tool to assess the knowledge of head and neck cancer was the result of through analysis. We believe that this bank of items will be eventually useful, as same items might be used to design several different questionnaires allowing different evaluations not only at the same time, but also at different times, such as the case of...
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Head and Neck Neoplasms , Health Evaluation , Knowledge , Mouth Neoplasms , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
O câncer é responsável por mais de 12% de todas as causas de óbito no mundo, chegando a matar mais de 7 milhões de pessoas por ano. Suspeitar e diagnosticar precocemente o câncer implica em conhecimento relativamente básico sobre o assunto. O questionário é um bom instrumento para medição do conhecimento, e pode ser validado pela Teoria da Resposta ao Item - TRI. O objetivo deste trabalho foi a criação de um instrumento para avaliar o conhecimento sobre o câncer de cabeça e pescoço em diferentes níveis de habilidade. Metodologia: Neste trabalho, inicialmente, foram criados 32 itens para avaliar o conhecimento sobre o câncer de cabeça e pescoço, os quais, antes de serem aplicados a escolares do 3º. Ano do Ensino Médio (n=994), foram incorporados a 24 outros itens, sobre o mesmo construto e população alvo semelhante (n= 1012). Esses itens haviam sido calibrados pela TRI, pelo modelo logístico unidimensional de 3 parâmetros, gerando uma escala (0,1), pela função de informação do item. Durante o processo de incorporação, três itens foram eliminados, restando 53 itens, para esta população. Posteriormente, ainda neste trabalho, 68 novos itens foram criados, sob o mesmo construto, e aplicados aos graduandos dos últimos anos do Curso de Odontologia (n=95) e a cirurgiões dentistas (n=284), totalizando 379 respondentes. Esses 68 itens também foram calibrados naquela mesma escala (0,1), com 2385 respondentes. Resultados: Após a análise, 60, daqueles 68 itens foram mantidos, que somados aos 53 itens iniciais, formaram um questionário com 113 itens sobre câncer de cabeça e pescoço calibrados pela TRI. Também está apresentada a sequência metodológica do processo de incorporação dos itens em uma mesma escala de habilidade. Conclusão: Ainda que um construto não possa ser explorado em sua plenitude semântica, a elaboração desse instrumento, para medir o conhecimento sobre o câncer de cabeça e pescoço, foi fruto de exaustiva análise, por isso, acreditamos que esse...
Cancer is responsible for over 12% of all causes of death in the world, killing more than 7 million people a year. Early detection and early diagnose cancer implies in basic knowledge on the subject. The questionnaire is a good tool for measuring knowledge, and can be validated by the Item Response Theory - IRT. The aim of this study was to build a tool to assess the knowledge of head and in different level of ability. Methodology: At the beginning 32 items were designed to assess knowledge of head and neck cancer. Before being applied to 3rd High School Students (n=994) these items were joint to 24 others items over the same construct and the same population(n=1012). The previous items had being calibrated by IRT, by parameters of one-dimensional logistic model, getting a scale (0,1) by information function of the item. Over the incorporation process three items were eliminated, coming 53 items for the same population. Further, still in the same study 68 new items, over the same construct and applied to undergraduates of the last years of the Dental School (n-95) and to dental Surgeon (n-284) with a total of 379 respondents. The 68 items were also designed and calibrated in the same scale (o,1), now with a total of 2385 respondents. Results: After the analysis, 60 of the 68 items were kept and added to the previous 53 items and they comprise a questionnaire with 113 items on head and neck cancer calibrated by IRT. This study also presents the methodological sequence of the incorporation process of items in the same scale of ability. Conclusion: Although a construct cannot be totally exploited, the elaboration of this tool to assess the knowledge of head and neck cancer was the result of through analysis. We believe that this bank of items will be eventually useful, as same items might be used to design several different questionnaires allowing different evaluations not only at the same time, but also at different times...
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Head and Neck Neoplasms , Health Evaluation , Knowledge , Mouth Neoplasms , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
Objetivo: analisar a ocorrência de acidentes com instrumentais/materiais pérfuro-cortantes entre cirurgiões-dentistas e auxiliares de saúde bucal no ano de 2009 e ao longo de sua vida profissional. métodos: a população da pesquisa foi composta por 15 cirurgiões-dentistas e 15 auxiliares de saúde bucal do centro de saúde desembargador Ângelo Jordão de Vasconcelos Filho na cidade do Recife- PE. A coleta de dados deste estudo do tipo descritivo e retrospectivo foi realizada no mês de agosto de 2009, por meio da aplicação de questionário autoaplicável, abordando informações gerais dos cirurgiões-dentistas e auxiliares de saúde bucal em relação à ocorrência de acidentes. A análise estatística foi realizada de forma descritiva, por meio de distribuições absolutas e percentuais e estatística inferencial, por meio do qui-quadrado de Pearson ou do teste exato de Fischer. resultados: a maioria dos profissionais relatou ter sofrido acidente pérfuro-cortante ao longo de sua vida profissional (83,3%) e no ano de 2009 (40,0%); a sonda exploradora (54,2%) seguida da agulha (45,8%) foram os instrumentos mais envolvidos nesses acidentes. Quantoá existência de protocolo com as condutas a serem adotadas pós-acidente, a grande maioria demonstrou desconhecer a existência de um protocolo.
Objective: This study has the aim to a investigate the occurrence of piercing-cutting accidents involved dentists and auxiliary dental health, thoughout his professional life and in the year 2009. methods: the sample was composed of 15 dentists and 15 auxiliary dental health who work at Desembargador Ângelo Jordão de Vasconcelos Filho health center in Recife-PE. Data were collected through self-reported questionnaires about general information of occurrence of accidents on August 2009. The statistic analysis techiques were used through descriptive statistics and percent distributions, and inferencial statistics using chi-square test or Fisher exact test. results: The most of the professionals had suffered piercing-cutting accidents throughout life (83,3%) and at the year 2009 (40%); the explorer probe (54,2%) and the needle were the instruments most frequently involved in accidents. About the existence of a treatment protocol in case of accidents, the dentists demonstrated unknown one.
ABSTRACT
O câncer bucal é uma doença provavelmente genética, complexa e multifatorial. Ainda hoje é considerado potencialmente fatal e continua a ter uma incidência global elevada, representando um problema de saúde pública. O diagnóstico precoce das neoplasias malignas bucais não deveria apresentar grandes dificuldades, já que a região é de fácil acesso ao exame clínico, dispensando qualquer tipo de equipamento especial, e lesões cancerizáveis podem ser diagnosticadas e tratadas antes da transformação carcinomatosa. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a prática e atitude clínica dos cirurgiões-dentistas de Santa Catarina em relação ao câncer de boca. Foi realizado um estudo transversal aleatório por amostragem de 385 cirurgiões-dentistas cadastrados no banco de dados do Conselho Regional de Odontologia de Santa Catarina (CROSC). O questionário utilizado foi enviado via correio convencional (resposta de 19,7%) e via e-mail (resposta de 1,4%), evidenciandoa falta de interesse da classe pelo assunto e, em participar, de pesquisas científicas. Os resultados permitiram avaliar que a prática do profissional de realizar o exame em busca de lesões suspeitas de câncer de boca foi relatada pela maioria da amostra (72%), mas 47,5% dos participantes relataram nunca terem realizado um diagnóstico de câncer de boca. Conclui-se que a política do governo federal para encaminhamento dos pacientes com lesões suspeitas não vem sendo posta em prática, pois somente 11,7% dos entrevistados relataram estar encaminhando seus pacientes para os Centros de Especialidades Odontológicas (CEOs). Dessa forma, a realidade está distante da prática do profissional da odontologia. Os dados permitem concluir que se faz necessária a divulgação dos serviços de diagnóstico de câncer bucal para os profissionais de Santa Catarina e que o cirurgião-dentista se responsabilize pelo diagnóstico desta enfermidade.
Oral cancer is a complex and multifactorial genetic disease that is potentially fatal. It continues to show a high worldwide incidence and is regarded as a public health problem. The early diagnosis of oral tumours should not present great difficulty since the region is easily accessed by clinical examination, without the need for any type of special equipment, and pre-cancerous lesions can be diagnosed and treated before undergoing malignant transformation. The objective of this study was to examine the clinical practice and the attitude towards oral cancer among dental surgeons in Santa Catarina. This transverse study involved a sample of 385 dental surgeons,randomly chosen from the data base of the regional professional board (CROSC). The questionnaire used was sent via conventional mail and via e-mail, with the respective response rates of 19.7% and 1.4% demonstrating a lack of interest among this group in both the subject and in participating in scientific research. The results show that the practice of carrying out an examination for oral cancer to identify suspicious lesions was reported by the majority of the sample (72%), although 47.5% of the sample replied that they had never performed a diagnosis of oral cancer. The policy of the Federal Government of referring patients with suspicious lesions is not being enacted, since only 11.7% reported having referred their patients to Centres of Dental Specialisation (CEOs). These findings show that practice among dental professionals is far from ideal, that it is necessary to publicize the diagnostic services to professionals in Santa Catarina, and that the dental surgeon must take responsibility for the diagnosis of oral cancer.