Knowing leprosy: the role of Oral Health Assistant students in this context

Authors

  • Cléa Adas Saliba Garbin Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho", Faculdade de Odontologia, Araçatuba - SP.
  • Adrielle Mendes de Paula Gomes Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho", Faculdade de Odontologia, Araçatuba - SP.
  • Ana Victória Butarelo Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho", Faculdade de Odontologia, Araçatuba - SP.
  • Orlando Saliba Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho", Faculdade de Odontologia, Araçatuba - SP.
  • Artênio José Isper Garbin Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho", Faculdade de Odontologia, Araçatuba - SP.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18316/sdh.v9i3.7855

Keywords:

Leprosy, Knowledge, Allied Health Personnel

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the knowledge of students of the Oral Health Assistant course on leprosy disease.

Material and methods: The study was carried out in 2018 at a training institute for Oral Health Assistants, in São Paulo - SP, Brazil. For data collection, a self-administered questionnaire was used, containing questions on the theme.

Results: 79 students participated in the study, with an average age of 31.28 years. 56.96% had already worked as assistants and 53.33% had worked in this position for less than five years. 62.02% stated that they had already received guidance on the disease, and 32.65% obtained this knowledge through the media. 70.89% said they did not know how to suspect if the patient has the disease and 35.44% were unaware of the clinical characteristics of the disease. The form of transmission and treatment was also unknown to the majority. 22.78% believe that patients need isolation to be treated. There was a statistically significant association between knowledge about the cure of leprosy and the level of safety of assistants in caring for patients with the disease (p = 0.0043). Asked what word they associated when thinking about leprosy, most answered “Leprosy”.

Conclusion: The knowledge of students in the Oral Health Assistant course is deficient.

Author Biographies

Cléa Adas Saliba Garbin, Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho", Faculdade de Odontologia, Araçatuba - SP.

Professora Titular do Departamento de Odontologia Preventiva e Restauradora, Faculdade de Odontologia de Araçatuba - FOA/Unesp

Adrielle Mendes de Paula Gomes, Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho", Faculdade de Odontologia, Araçatuba - SP.

Doutora em Odontologia Preventiva e Social,  Departamento de Odontologia Preventiva e Restauradora, Faculdade de Odontologia de Araçatuba - FOA/Unesp

Ana Victória Butarelo, Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho", Faculdade de Odontologia, Araçatuba - SP.

Mestranda do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde Coletiva em Odontologia, Departamento de Odontologia Preventiva e Restauradora, Faculdade de Odontologia de Araçatuba - FOA/Unesp

Orlando Saliba, Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho", Faculdade de Odontologia, Araçatuba - SP.

Professor Titular do Departamento de Odontologia Preventiva e Restauradora, Faculdade de Odontologia de Araçatuba - FOA/ Unesp

Artênio José Isper Garbin, Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho", Faculdade de Odontologia, Araçatuba - SP.

Professor Associado do Departamento de Odontologia Preventiva e Restauradora, Faculdade de Odontologia de Araçatuba - FOA/Unesp

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Published

2021-12-02

Issue

Vol. 9 No. 3 (2021)

Section

Artigos Originais

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