CÂNCER DE BOCA: AVALIAÇÃO DO CONHECIMENTO DE CIRURGIÕES-DENTISTAS DA ESTRATÉGIA DE SAÚDE DA FAMÍLIA DE MOSSORÓ (RN)

Abstract

Introduction: Oral cancer is a malignant neoplasm that represents a serious public health problem due to the high incidence, prevalence and mortality and the dentist must be able to diagnose this disease. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge of dentists of the Family Health Strategy of Mossoró (RN, Brazil) about oral cancer. Methodology: The researcher went to the Basic Health Unit to invite dentists to participate in the research and applied a structured questionnaire. After analyzing the questionnaires, each interviewee was given a concept to assess their knowledge of oral cancer. The tabulation and data analysis was used with a statistical program called Statiscal Package Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.0. Results: Regarding self-assessment, only 7% of the sample considered themselves to have an excellent level of knowledge about the disease. A minority (4.7%) participated in courses with this theme last year. It was also observed that 81.4% of dentists had a low level of confidence in performing oral cancer diagnostic procedures. When assigning concepts according to the answers given by professionals about the knowledge of oral cancer, it was found that most of the interviewed dental surgeons obtained a regular (C) and good (B) concept of oral cancer. Conclusions: Most of the dentists in Mossoró had knowledge between regular and good about oral cancer, however they feel insecure to make the diagnosis, requiring training on oral cancer and refresher courses that also contribute to the increase of self-confidence of these professionals.