Analysis of hospital dental care for patients with special needs in Brazil.

This analytical cross-sectional study aimed to analyze the access of patients with special needs (PSN) in Brazilian municipalities to hospital dental care of the Unified Health System (Sistema Único de Saúde - SUS), based on data from the Hospital Information System of the Unified Health System (Sistema de Informações Hospitalares do SUS- SIH/SUS - SIH), from 2010 to 2018. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov normality test was performed; the Poisson regression was used to verify factors associated with the variable total number of hospitalization authorizations with the main procedure of dental treatment for PSN ("Total de Autorizações de Internação Hospitalar" - AIH), the Spearman correlation test with a significance level of 5% was used to characterize the relationships between the Municipal Human Development Index per municipality - (Índice de Desenvolvimento Humano Municipal - HDI) and the Oral Health Coverage in the Family Health Strategy by municipality (Cobertura de saúde bucal na estratégia saúde da família por município - SBSF Coverage), and the relationship of the AIH with SBSF Coverage. A total of 127,691 procedures were performed, of which 71,517 (56%) were clinical procedures, such as restorations, endodontic treatments, supra and subgingival scaling, among others. Municipalities in the Midwest (PR=5.117) and Southeast (RP = 4.443) regions had more precedures than the others. A weak correlation was found between AIH and SBSF Coverage (r = -0.2, p < 0.001) and HDI and SBSF Coverage (r = -0.074, p < 0.001). Population size, region, health coverage, oral hygiene, and number of dentists in hospitals affected the availability of dental procedures in PSN.

How different attributes are weighted in professionals' decision-making in Pediatric Dentistry-a protocol for guiding discrete choice experiment focused on shortening the evidence-based practice implementation for dental care.

BACKGROUND: Important evidence has been constantly produced and needs to be converted into practice. Professional consumption of such evidence may be a barrier to its implementation. Then, effective implementation of evidence-based interventions in clinical practice leans on the understanding of how professionals value attributes when choosing between options for dental care, permitting to guide this implementation process by maximizing strengthens and minimizing barriers related to that. METHODS: This is part of a broader project investigating the potential of incorporating scientific evidence into clinical practice and public policy recommendations and guidelines, identifying strengths and barriers in such an implementation process. The present research protocol comprises a Discrete Choice Experiment (DCE) from the Brazilian oral health professionals' perspective, aiming to assess how different factors are associated with professional decision-making in dental care, including the role of scientific evidence. Different choice sets will be developed, either focusing on understanding the role of scientific evidence in the professional decision-making process or on understanding specific attributes associated with different interventions recently tested in randomized clinical trials and available as newly produced scientific evidence to be used in clinical practice. DISCUSSION: Translating research into practice usually requires time and effort. Shortening this process may be useful for faster incorporation into clinical practice and beneficial to the population. Understanding the context and professionals' decision-making preferences is crucial to designing more effective implementation and/or educational initiatives. Ultimately, we expect to design an efficient implementation strategy that overcomes threats and potential opportunities identified during the DCEs, creating a customized structure for dental professionals. TRIAL REGISTRATION: https://osf.io/bhncv .

Orthodontics in the oral health care network of the Unified Health System (SUS).

This observational study aimed to describe and analyze data from two external evaluations of the National Program for Improving Access to and Quality of Dental Specialty Centers (PMAQ CEO), held in 2014 and 2018 in Brazil, which evaluated Dental Specialty Centers (CEO) using a national and census approach. We selected questions through a search in the microdata of the first and second evaluations. The groups were analyzed independently. To compare the groups, nonparametric tests were performed (Mann Whitney U). The formulated hypotheses were: there would be no differences between the data of these groups (h0) and there would be differences between the data of these groups (h1). For qualitative nominal variables, frequency distribution was verified and association tests were performed (chi-square test). The significance level for this study was set at 5%. We observed that orthodontic treatments were found in about 13% of the CEO. Regarding human resources, most professionals were specialists or had MSc or PhD degrees; were civil servants; had been hired by direct administration; or had been hired via public tender. Regarding the work process and inclusion of the CEO in the health care network, we observed a greater number of services that use single and electronic medical records, greater presence of services monitoring and analyzing goals, greater knowledge about monthly average of absenteeism (for 2018); and larger number of services with referrals from primary health care centers (for 2014). Expanding the view on orthodontics and including preventive, interceptive, and corrective treatments at different points in health care networks are essential strategies for achieving comprehensive care in universal health systems.

Orthodontics in the oral health care network of the Unified Health System (SUS)

Abstract This observational study aimed to describe and analyze data from two external evaluations of the National Program for Improving Access to and Quality of Dental Specialty Centers (PMAQ CEO), held in 2014 and 2018 in Brazil, which evaluated Dental Specialty Centers (CEO) using a national and census approach. We selected questions through a search in the microdata of the first and second evaluations. The groups were analyzed independently. To compare the groups, nonparametric tests were performed (Mann Whitney U). The formulated hypotheses were: there would be no differences between the data of these groups (h0) and there would be differences between the data of these groups (h1). For qualitative nominal variables, frequency distribution was verified and association tests were performed (chi-square test). The significance level for this study was set at 5%. We observed that orthodontic treatments were found in about 13% of the CEO. Regarding human resources, most professionals were specialists or had MSc or PhD degrees; were civil servants; had been hired by direct administration; or had been hired via public tender. Regarding the work process and inclusion of the CEO in the health care network, we observed a greater number of services that use single and electronic medical records, greater presence of services monitoring and analyzing goals, greater knowledge about monthly average of absenteeism (for 2018); and larger number of services with referrals from primary health care centers (for 2014). Expanding the view on orthodontics and including preventive, interceptive, and corrective treatments at different points in health care networks are essential strategies for achieving comprehensive care in universal health systems.

Analysis of hospital dental care for patients with special needs in Brazil

Abstract This analytical cross-sectional study aimed to analyze the access of patients with special needs (PSN) in Brazilian municipalities to hospital dental care of the Unified Health System (Sistema Único de Saúde - SUS), based on data from the Hospital Information System of the Unified Health System (Sistema de Informações Hospitalares do SUS- SIH/SUS - SIH), from 2010 to 2018. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov normality test was performed; the Poisson regression was used to verify factors associated with the variable total number of hospitalization authorizations with the main procedure of dental treatment for PSN ("Total de Autorizações de Internação Hospitalar" - AIH), the Spearman correlation test with a significance level of 5% was used to characterize the relationships between the Municipal Human Development Index per municipality - (Índice de Desenvolvimento Humano Municipal - HDI) and the Oral Health Coverage in the Family Health Strategy by municipality (Cobertura de saúde bucal na estratégia saúde da família por município - SBSF Coverage), and the relationship of the AIH with SBSF Coverage. A total of 127,691 procedures were performed, of which 71,517 (56%) were clinical procedures, such as restorations, endodontic treatments, supra and subgingival scaling, among others. Municipalities in the Midwest (PR=5.117) and Southeast (RP = 4.443) regions had more precedures than the others. A weak correlation was found between AIH and SBSF Coverage (r = -0.2, p < 0.001) and HDI and SBSF Coverage (r = -0.074, p < 0.001). Population size, region, health coverage, oral hygiene, and number of dentists in hospitals affected the availability of dental procedures in PSN.

Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART) as Public Policy: a Scoping Review / O Tratamento Restaurador Atraumático (ART) como Política Pública: uma Revisão de Escopo

This scoping review aimed to identify, describe, and analyze the use of Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART) as public policy. Inclusion criteria: studies on public oral health policies; dental caries; ART. Exclusion criteria: clinical studies; specific interventions; studies that report public policies that do not use ART as a strategy for caries treatment. The search was conducted in PubMed, BVS, Epistemonikos, Health Systems Evidence, and Rxforchange. The selection process and data extraction were performed by two authors independently according to the stages and categories of a conceptual framework. Of the 2253 eligible articles, 139 were duplicates, and 1680 were not included after reading the title and abstract. After assessing the full text, 414 articles were excluded. Twenty articles were included. Nineteen were conducted in nine countries (South Africa, Bolivia, Cambodia, Egypt, Mexico, Tanzania, East Timor, Tunisia, and Zimbabwe), and one in the Americas. The studies reported high prevalence of dental caries and lack of access to restorative procedures in health services as common problems. Policy developments followed a similar process, with the presence of governments, conceptual use of scientific evidence, and induction by the World Health Organization. Regarding implementation barriers, the included studies mentioned the lack of supplies and lack of induction by managers,while in relation to the facilitators, permanent education and professional practice were mentioned. Cohort studies have shown a survival rate greater than 80% after one year of follow up of the restorations performed. The findings of this review indicate that the use of ART in public policies is promising, however, its use is still in an early stage. (AU)

Esta revisão de escopo teve como objetivo identificar, descrever e analisar o uso do Tratamento Restaurador Atraumático (ART) como política pública. Critérios de inclusão: estudos sobre políticas públicas de saúde bucal; cáries dentárias; ART. Critérios de exclusão: estudos clínicos; intervenções específicas; estudos que relatam políticas públicas que não utilizam o ART como estratégia para o tratamento de cárie. A pesquisa foi realizada no PubMed, BVS, Epistemonikos, Health Systems Evidence e Rxforchange. O processo de seleção e extração de dados foram realizados por dois autores, de forma independente, de acordo com as etapas e categorias de um quadro conceitual. Dos 2.253 artigos elegíveis, 139 eram duplicados e 1.680 não foram incluídos após a leitura do título e do resumo. Após avaliação do texto completo, foram excluídos 414 artigos. Vinte artigos foram incluídos. Dezenove foram realizados em nove países (África do Sul, Bolívia, Camboja, Egito, México, Tanzânia, Timor Leste, Tunísia e Zimbábue) e um nas Américas. Os estudos relataram alta prevalência de cárie dentária e falta de acesso a procedimentos restauradores nos serviços de saúde como problemas comuns. Os desenvolvimentos de políticas seguiram um processo semelhante, com a presença de governos, uso conceitual de evidências científicas e indução da Organização Mundial da Saúde. Quanto às barreiras de implementação, foram mencionadas a falta de insumos e a falta de indução por parte dos gestores. Quanto aos facilitadores, foram citados a educação permanente e a prática profissional. Estudos de coorte mostraram sobrevida superior a 80% após um ano de acompanhamento. Os achados desta revisão indicam que a utilização da ART nas políticas públicas é promissora, porém, sua utilização ainda é incipiente. (AU)

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.