Latin America and the Caribbean Code Against Cancer 1st edition: Formative research on the comprehension and persuasiveness of the recommendations by the general population.

BACKGROUND: Cancer prevention is the most efficient and cost-effective strategy in cancer control. One prevention strategy is giving credible, clear, and evidence-based recommendations to the individual; however, it is key that these messages are accepted and understood properly by the public. This study aimed to pilot the draft recommendations developed as part of the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) Code Against Cancer 1st edition, in terms of comprehension and persuasion of each message. METHODS: A mixed method two-wave study, in which two versions of the messages were presented to the general population in five LAC countries. We used an ad-hoc questionnaire and interviews that followed the cognitive-pretesting methodology. RESULTS: Findings suggest that the messages were generally well understood, especially in Spanish speaking countries, and that the messages were generally more understandable than persuasive. We adapted and revised the recommendations based on the findings of the first Wave and held a second iteration in the Spanish speaking countries. We observed a better understanding of most messages in Wave 2. CONCLUSION: The LAC Code Against Cancer is a valuable tool of well understood messages for the public, with concrete actions everyone can take to prevent cancer. Further research should assess particularities of the region for further efficient dissemination of these important health messages, identify key messages for certain population groups and future interventions that strengthen health literacy in rural and less educated populations to increase behavior change.

Factors influencing professionalism during dental training at the University of Chile: perception of students and patients.

BACKGROUND: The University should be considered a favourable space and agent for the training and transmission of values and attitudes related to professionalism, such as responsibility, teamwork and ethical commitment. In addition, dentistry is a profession with a deep social sense that seeks to solve the oral health problems of the population to improve the quality of life. In this context, our aim was to explore the perception of students and patients about the contribution of the curriculum to the development of professionalism and to identify the factors that strengthen and weaken this perception. METHODS: A qualitative approach was carried out through focus groups and semi-structured interviews with students from the 4th, 5th and 6th year of training and patients treated at the Dental Clinic of our Faculty. RESULTS: In the opinion of patients and students, the factors that debilitate the training in professionalism are associated with weakened professional values/behaviours in the training, the lack of teacher training of the professors and factors of educational environment. On the contrary, factors strengthening the professionalism are mainly related to hallmark values/ professional behaviours trained in the institution and to the good evaluation by patients. The respondents also perceive the implementation of a new curriculum as a positive factor for the training in professionalism. CONCLUSION: The patients and students interviewed believe that the main strength for the training in professionalism in the institution is the development of adaptability for the future professionals to any social context, especially to a vulnerable one, the ability to solve the problems they face and the responsibility towards the patients and their treatment.

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

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.

Knowledge, attitudes, behavioral and organizational factors of health professions students for a competent smoking cessation practice: An instrument adaptation and psychometric validation study in Spanish and English samples.

BACKGROUND: To improve smoking cessation, training of health professions students is essential. However, no specific instrument is available to assess factors that may affect students' learning about smoking cessation practice. AIM: To adapt and validate the Knowledge, Attitudes, Behaviors and Organization questionnaire in the population of undergraduate health professions students. DESIGN: Methodological research. METHODS: The researchers conducted this study with 511 Spanish and 186 English health professions students from four different universities. We used a four-step approach: 1) adaptation of the items to the target population and validation of the content by a panel of experts; 2) a pilot study to test face validity; 3) linguistic adaptation of the Spanish version to English; and 4) the psychometric assessment based on construct validity, criterion validity and internal consistency. RESULTS: Exploratory factor analysis revealed four subscales for the Spanish version, namely 'Individual knowledge and skills', 'Individual attitudes and beliefs', 'Organizational support' and 'Organizational resources', which accounted for 85.1% of the variance. Confirmatory factor analysis in the holdout Spanish and English samples revealed adequate goodness-of-fit values, supporting the factor structure. Hypotheses testing demonstrated significant differences by capacitation in smoking cessation interventions and degree courses, providing further evidence regarding construct validity. All the subscales correlated positively with the criterion variables (5 A's smoking cessation model), except for the 'Organizational resources' subscale, which was not significantly correlated with the 5 A's. The overall Cronbach's alpha was.83 for the Spanish version and.88 for the English one. CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide empirical support for the use of the Knowledge, Attitudes, Behaviors and Organization questionnaire for Students as a reliable and valid instrument to assess knowledge, attitudes, behaviors and organization perceptions in health professions students, which is essential for competent smoking cessation practice. Interestingly, 'Organizational resources' subscale presented the lowest correlations among factors and did not correlate with any component of the 5 A's, suggesting the need of enhancing students' responsibility and involvement during their internships, as well as the interest of some organizations.

¿Qué Nos Queda Por Recorrer Para Proveer Salud Oral De Calidad A Las Personas Adultas En Chile?

Existen factores de riesgo comunes entre las enfermedades de la cavidad oral y las enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles, y se conoce sobre su vinculación con la salud general y la calidad de vida. En Chile, la atención odontológica en el sistema público está destinada principalmente a la población infantojuvenil, y solo algunos de los programas odontológicos incluyen componentes con atención para adultos. La mayor parte de la población adulta atendida accede mediante los Programas de Reforzamiento de la Atención Primaria de Salud (PRAPS), cuya sostenibilidad en el tiempo no es posible de determinar, por lo que es relevante poner el foco en aquella población con mayor daño acumulado y que al día de hoy no tiene acceso garantizado a la atención odontológica.

There are common risk factors between diseases of the oral cavity and chronic non-communicable diseases, and it is known that they are related to general health and quality of life. In Chile, dental care in the public system is mainly aimed at the child and adolescent population, and only some of the dental programs include care for adults. Most of the adult population attended has access through the Primary Health Care Reinforcement Program (PHCRP), whose sustainability over time is not possible to determine. So, it is important to focus on the population with the greatest cumulative damage and without guaranteed access to dental care today.

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.

Instrumentos para medir la capacidad funcional intrínseca y la fragilidad de personas mayores en la Atención Primaria en Chile / Instruments to assess functional capacity and the presence of frailty in older people

BACKGROUND: The evaluation of functional capacity and the presence of frailty is an essential prognostic indicator in older people. Aim: To explore the instruments used to characterize the intrinsic functional capacity (CFI) and frailty in elderly people cared at Primary Health Care Centers (PHC) in Chile. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A narrative review of national and international scientific literature was carried out, including observational studies published in Pubmed (since 2015) and Scielo (since 2010) about tools to assess CFI or frailty. Studies in English or Spanish carried out in Chilean beneficiaries of PHC aged 60 years and over, were included. Results: After the first search, 110 articles were selected in Pubmed and 86 in Scielo. According to the relevance of the title and abstract, 36 articles were preliminarily screened, of which 25 were selected for full reading, 12 of which were finally included in this review. In Chile, the main instrument used to assess CFI is the Functional Examination of the Elderly (EFAM). There are few national studies to assess frailty and the instruments used are mainly based on the Fried criteria and the FTI (Frailty Tilburg Indicator). The reviewed studies suggest improving the coverage and reconsidering the predictive capacity of the measurements used for the assessment of CFI and frailty in older people, suggesting the incorporation of handgrip strength as a predictor of frailty. CONCLUSIONS: The main instruments to assess CFI and frailty in older people cared in PHC in Chile are the EFAM, and the Fried and FTI criteria, respectively.

[Instruments to assess functional capacity and the presence of frailty in older people]. / Instrumentos para medir la capacidad funcional intrínseca y la fragilidad de personas mayores en la Atención Primaria en Chile.

BACKGROUND: The evaluation of functional capacity and the presence of frailty is an essential prognostic indicator in older people. AIM: To explore the instruments used to characterize the intrinsic functional capacity (CFI) and frailty in elderly people cared at Primary Health Care Centers (PHC) in Chile. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A narrative review of national and international scientific literature was carried out, including observational studies published in Pubmed (since 2015) and Scielo (since 2010) about tools to assess CFI or frailty. Studies in English or Spanish carried out in Chilean beneficiaries of PHC aged 60 years and over, were included. RESULTS: After the first search, 110 articles were selected in Pubmed and 86 in Scielo. According to the relevance of the title and abstract, 36 articles were preliminarily screened, of which 25 were selected for full reading, 12 of which were finally included in this review. In Chile, the main instrument used to assess CFI is the Functional Examination of the Elderly (EFAM). There are few national studies to assess frailty and the instruments used are mainly based on the Fried criteria and the FTI (Frailty Tilburg Indicator). The reviewed studies suggest improving the coverage and reconsidering the predictive capacity of the measurements used for the assessment of CFI and frailty in older people, suggesting the incorporation of handgrip strength as a predictor of frailty. CONCLUSIONS: The main instruments to assess CFI and frailty in older people cared in PHC in Chile are the EFAM, and the Fried and FTI criteria, respectively.

Manifestaciones orales y recuento de linfocitos T CD4+ en pacientes adultos con infección por VIH atendidos en el Hospital San Juan de Dios. Santiago, Chile

Resumen Introducción: Las lesiones orales clasificadas como fuertemente asociadas a infección por VIH se presentan en casos de inmunosupresión profunda (recuento de linfocitos T CD4+ ≤ a 200 céls/mm3 de sangre). Objetivo: Asociar la presencia de lesiones orales fuertemente asociadas a infección por VIH con el recuento sérico de linfocitos T (LT) CD4+ al momento del diagnóstico. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio transversal en PVVIH atendidas en el Hospital San Juan de Dios entre 2013 y 2019. Las lesiones orales se diagnosticaron por el criterio de EC-Clearinghouse - OHARA, y la inmunosupresión fue determinada según el recuento de LT CD4+. Resultados: De los 240 pacientes reclutados, 35 pacientes presentaron lesiones fuertemente asociadas a infección por VIH y 26 de ellos presentaron inmunosupresión profunda. La probabilidad de ocurrencia de una lesión fuertemente asociada a infección por VIH fue 12,3 veces mayor en pacientes con inmunosupresión profunda. Conclusión: Existe una asociación estadísticamente significativa entre un estado de inmunosupresión profunda y la presencia de manifestaciones orales fuertemente asociadas a infección por VIH/SIDA, lo cual posee relevancia clínica pues se presenta como una herramienta clínica de diagnóstico inicial, progresión de la enfermedad y monitorización de la terapia antiretroviral.

Abstract Background: Oral lesions classified as strongly associated with HIV infection occur in cases of severe immunosuppression (CD4+ T lymphocyte count ≤ 200 cells/mm3 of blood). Aim: To associate the presence of oral lesions strongly associated with HIV infection with CD4+ T lymphocytes count at the time of diagnosis. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in PLHIV treated at the San Juan de Dios Hospital between 2013 and 2019. Oral lesions were diagnosed by the EC-Clearinghouse - OHARA criteria and immunosuppression was determined according to the CD4+ T lymphocyte count. Results: Of the 240 recruited patients, 35 had lesions strongly associated with HIV infection and 26 of them had severe immunosuppression. The probability of occurrence of a lesion strongly associated with HIV infection is 12.3 times higher in patients with severe immunosuppression. Conclusion: There is a statistically significant association between a severe immunosuppression and the presence of oral manifestations strongly associated with HIV/ AIDS infection, which has clinical relevance since it is presented as a clinical tool for initial diagnosis, disease progression and monitoring of antiretroviral therapy.

Values related to professionalism in dental education at the University of Chile: Student and faculty perceptions.

OBJECTIVE: It is recognised that professionalism should play a central role in dental education. However, its implementation into the curricula of dental schools is still limited. Our objective was to identify the main values related to professionalism based on the perceptions of students and faculty members from the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Chile. METHODS: A Dental Values Survey was validated and culturally adapted in order to guarantee the greatest possible internal validity. The adapted survey was administered to students and faculty members (416 and 225, respectively). The final survey contained 64 items rated on a Likert scale of 1-5. Each item was categorised according to five dimensions: Altruism, Consciousness, Personal Satisfaction, Quality of Life and Professional Status. The values were compared between faculty and students and among students at different courses. A values scale was constructed by selecting the five items with the highest average score for each dimension. RESULTS: Survey respondents composed 34.32% of the universe, of which 50.46% were faculty and 49.54% were students. Values associated with Altruism, Consciousness and Professional Status, were the highest rated by students and faculty. Values associated with Personal Satisfaction and Quality of Life received the lowest scores for both groups. CONCLUSIONS: To provide the best possible attention to patients (Consciousness), and that patients have access to affordable dental care (Altruism), are the values at the top of our scale. On the other hand, to maintain financial stability and to be well paid (Quality of Life) were the less considered.

Dossier: Políticas Públicas de Salud Bucal en Iberoamérica / Dossier: Oral Health Public Policies in Iberian-America / Dossier: Políticas Públicas de Saúde Bucal na Ibero-América

Tenemos el gusto de presentar a nuestros lectores el primer número de 2019 que incluye el dossier temático Políticas Públicas de Salud Bucal en Iberoamérica. Este dossier es resultado de la segunda colaboración de Universitas Odontologica con otras organizaciones. En el número 71 de 2014 publicamos los resúmenes del 5º Congreso Iberoamericano de Periodoncia - 54° Seminario Anual de la Asociación Colombiana de Periodoncia y Oseointegración.

We are pleased to present to our readers the first issue of 2019 that includes the thematic dossier Public Policies of Oral Health in Ibero-America. This dossier is the result of the second collaboration of Universitas Odontologica with other organizations. In issue 71 of 2014, we published the abstracts of the 5th Ibero-American Congress of Periodontics - 54th Annual Seminar of the Colombian Association of Periodontics and Osseointegration.

Mediaciones efectuadas en el ámbito odontológico realizadas por el sistema público de salud. 2010-2015 / Mediations in dentistry made by the public health system. 2010-2015

RESUMEN: Introducción: La Reforma de Salud del 2005 estableció la mediación como un procedimiento obligatorio para la justicia civil, con el objeto de evitar la judicialización de la salud. Esta investigación ahonda en las características de las mediaciones odontológicas del sistema público de salud en Chile. Material y Método: Estudio transversal, de mediaciones generadas por atenciones odontológicas otorgadas en el sistema público de salud entre los años 2005 y 2015 informadas por Unidad de Mediación del Consejo de Defensa del Estado (CDE). Resultados: No se dispone de anterior al año 2010 por falta de registro. Por tanto, solo fue factible analizar desde 2010 al 2015. Se registran 127 mediaciones ingresadas odontológicas, el 61% reclamantes son mujeres. 60,6% proviene de la atención secundaria. 83,4% (106 casos) el reclamo es contra el establecimiento y el tratante. Sólo el 22% logra acuerdo. De estos, el 10% solo requiere explicaciones y solo el 28,5% solicita indemnización. Conclusiones: Una mejor relación profesional-paciente disminuye el riesgo de judicialización, así como una mejor difusión del procedimiento de mediación aumentaría tasa de acuerdos.

ABSTRACT: Introduction: The 2005 Health Reform established mediation as a mandatory procedure for civil justice, in order to avoid prosecution of health. This research delves into the characteristics of the dental mediations of the Chilean public health system. Material and method: Cross-sectional study of mediations generated by dental care granted in the public health system between 2005 and 2015, reported by the Mediation Unit of the State Defense Council (CDE). Results: Not available prior to 2010 due to the lack of registration. Therefore, an analysis was only feasible from 2010 to 2015. There are 127 dentistry mediations registered, 61% of the claimants are women. 60.6% come from secondary care. 83.4% (106 cases) the claim is against the establishment and the practitioner. Only 22% achieve agreement. Of these, 10% only require explanations and only 28.5% ask for compensation. Conclusions: A better professional-patient relationship reduces the risk of prosecution, and a better dissemination of the mediation procedure would increase agreement rate.

Mediación en odontología y Garantías Explícitas en Salud en Chile 2005-2014: las diferencias entre el mundo privado y el público / Mediation in dentistry and Explicit Healthcare Guarantees in Chile 2005-2014: differences between the private and the public areas

RESUMEN: Antecedentes: En Chile desde 2005 se implementó la Ley Auge que establece como derecho de los usuarios, beneficiarios tanto del sistema público o privado de salud, cuatro Garantías Explícitas de Salud denominadas GES, entre las que se incluye la garantía de calidad y dentro de ella se establece la mediación como un procedimiento prejudicial, obligatorio, tendiente a evitar la judicialización de los casos de responsabilidad sanitaria. Este procedimiento contempla dos instancias de mediación según el prestador sea público o privado. Objetivo: describir las mediaciones por atenciones odontológicas en ambos subsistemas. Métodos: estudio trasversal descriptivo sobre las mediaciones efectuadas desde la implementación de este procedimiento (año 2005) hasta el año 2014, por prestaciones odontológicas, otorgadas tanto por prestadores públicos como privados. Resultados: En el periodo de estudio, se efectuaron 519 mediaciones en el ámbito odontológico. La mayoría (60,4%) de las reclamantes en mediaciones públicas son mujeres. Las especialidades o prestaciones odontológicas más comprometidas, información no disponible para las mediaciones públicas, son por atenciones de endodoncia (25%), implantología (16%) y prótesis (15%). El 58% de las mediaciones privadas y sólo el 34% de las públicas finalizan con acuerdo total entre las partes, existiendo dificultades para comparar ambos subsistemas, por la amplia variación en la recolección de datos. Entre las mediaciones públicas, un alto porcentaje de los reclamantes (70%) solo solicita disculpas y/o atención de salud y no busca retribuciones económicas. Conclusión: las reclamantes en las mediaciones en odontología son mayoritariamente mujeres, las especialidades odontológicas más comprometidas son endodoncia, implantes y prótesis, y la mayoría solicita sólo disculpas/explicaciones de los hechos y prestaciones asistenciales. Los registros de las mediaciones públicas y privadas contienen información disímil y parcial, por lo que se no se puede concluir sobre sus diferencias.

ABSTRACT: Background: In Chile since 2005 the AUGE Act establishes the rights of beneficiaries of both the public and private health systems four Explicit Health Guarantees called GES, among them quality assurance. The later included mediation implemented and established as a preliminary procedure, mandatory, intended to avoid prosecution of cases of medical malpractice. This procedure involves two instances of mediation depending on public or private providers. Objective: To describe the mediations arising from dental care in Chile. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study on mediatons since the implementation of this procedure (2005) until 2014, by dental benefits granted by both public and private providers. Results: During the study period, 519 mediations were performed in the dental field. The majority (60.4%) of complaints in public context are women. Specialties or more committed dental services, data available only for private mediations, are endodontics (25%), implantology (16%) and prosthetics (15%). 58% of private and only 34% of public mediatons end up with full agreement between the parties, with difficulties to compare the two systems due to the wide variation in data collection. Among public averages, a high percentage of claimants (70%) only request explanations/apologize and/or health benefits and do not economic compensation. Conclusion: claimants are mostly women, the most compromised dental specialties are endodontics, implants and prostheses, and most patients request only apologies/explanations about the facts and provided dental healthcare. The public and private mediations are not entirely comparable since data sources are dissimilar and contain partial information, so it is not possible to conclude about their differences.

Comparative Study of the Oral Health Profile of Institutionalized Elderly Persons in Brazil and Barcelona, Spain / Estudo Comparativo do Perfil de Saúde Bucal em Idosos Institucionalizados no Brasil e em Barcelona, Espanha

Abstract Objective: To compare the oral health profile of institutionalized elderly persons in Brazil and in Barcelona, Spain, by gender and country of residence. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed of individuals aged 65 years and above (n=1,440), resident in the health region of Barcelona and in Brazil. Two surveys and exams relating to the oral health status of institutionalized elderly persons in Brazil (in 2008) and in Barcelona, Spain (in 2009) were carried out. Periodontal disease, tooth loss and dental caries were analyzed, considering age and cognitive ability. The sample was stratified by gender and country. Bivariate and multivariate Robust Poisson Regression models were used to obtain adjusted Prevalence Ratios (aPR), and a 95% confidence interval (95%CI) was employed. Results: In Barcelona, men and women had a higher prevalence of periodontal illness: Men - calculus (aPR:1.5; CI:1.08-2.19) and pocket (aPR:2.05; CI:1.43-2.93) results. Women - calculus (aPR:2.4; CI:1.77-3.24) and pocket (aPR:3.2; CI:2.29-4.53) results. In Barcelona there was a lower prevalence of edentulism (aPR:0.49; CI:0.37-0.65) and functional edentulism (aPR:0.49; CI:0.40-0.60) among men. The same results were found among women with a lower prevalence of edentulism (aPR:0.49; CI: 0.41-0.58) and functional edentulism (aPR:0.42; CI: 0.30-0.49). Conclusions: A poor state of oral health of men and women was observed in both countries, with the elderly from Barcelona having worse periodontal health and the elderly from Brazil having greater tooth loss. AU

Resumo Objetivo: Comparar o perfil de saúde bucal de idosos institucionalizados no Brasil e em Barcelona, Espanha, segundo gênero e país de residência. Métodos: Foi realizado estudo do tipo cross-seccional, em indivíduos de 65 anos e mais (n=1.440), residentes na Região Sanitária de Barcelona, Espanha e no Brasil. Foram realizados dois levantamentos epidemiológicos para averiguar as condições de saúde bucal em idosos do Brasil (em 2008) e de Barcelona-ES (em 2009). Foram estudadas as seguintes condições com seus respectivos indicadores: doença periodontal (CPI), perda dentária (edentulismo e edentulismo funcional) e cárie dentária (CPO-D). A amostra foi estratificada pelo gênero e país dos idosos. Foram realizadas Regressão de Poisson Bivariada e Multivariada para a obtenção das Razões de Prevalência Ajustadas (RPa) com seus respectivos Intervalos de Confiança com 95% de significância (IC95%). Resultados: Em Barcelona-ES, homens e mulheres tiveram uma alta prevalência de doença periodontal em relação aos idosos brasileiros: homens: cálculo (RPa:1,5; IC:1,08-2,19) e bolsa periodontal (RPa:2,05; IC:1,43-2,93). Mulheres: cálculo (RPa:2,4; IC:1,77-3,24) e bolsa periodontal (RPa:3,2; IC: 2,29-4,53). Em Barcelona-ES foi encontrada uma baixa prevalência de edentulismo (RPa:0,49; IC:0,37-0,65) e edentulismo funcional (RPa:0,49; IC: 0,40-0,60) entre os homens. Resultados semelhantes foram observados entre as mulheres, com uma baixa prevalência de edentulismo (RPa:0,49; CI:0,41-0,58) e edentulismo funcional (RPa:0,42; CI:0,30-0,49). Conclusões: Foi observada uma precária condição de saúde bucal entre homens e mulheres idosos em ambos os países, sendo que os idosos de Barcelona-ES tiveram uma pior condição periodontal e os idosos brasileiros tiveram uma maior perda dentária. AU

Changes in socioeconomic inequalities in the use of dental care following major healthcare reform in Chile, 2004-2009.

The study examines changes in the distribution and socioeconomic inequalities of dental care utilization among adults after the major healthcare reform in Chile, 2004-2009. We evaluated the proportion of people who visited the dentist at least once in the previous two years, and the mean number of visits. These outcome variables were stratified by sex, age (20-39, 40-59, 60-63; ≥64 years), educational level (primary, secondary, higher), type of health insurance (public, private, uninsured), and socioeconomic status (quintiles of an asset-index). We also used the concentration index (CIndex) to assess the extent of socioeconomic inequalities in the use of dental care, stratified by age and sex as a proxy for dental care needs. The use of dental care significantly increased between 2004 and 2009, especially in those with public health insurance, with lower educational level and lower socioeconomic status. The CIndex for the total population significantly decreased both for the proportion who used dental care, and also the mean number of visits. Findings suggest that the use of dental care increased and socioeconomic-related inequalities in the utilization of dental care declined after a Major Health Reform, which included universal coverage for some dental cares in Chile. However, efforts to ameliorate these inequalities require an approach that moves beyond a sole focus on rectifying health coverage.