Photobiomodulation for Oral Mucositis - A Microcosting and Budget Impact Analysis from a Brazilian Perspective

ABSTRACT Objective: To measure the costs of preventive and therapeutic protocols of Photobiomodulation (PBM) for oral mucositis (OM) and their budgetary impact on Brazil's Ministry of Health (BMH). Material and Methods: A partial economic analysis was performed to estimate the costs using a bottom-up approach from a social perspective. Monetary values were assigned in Brazilian reais (BRL). The costs of the preventive protocol were calculated for five, 30, and 33 consecutive PBM sessions, depending on the antineoplastic treatment instituted. The costs of the therapeutic protocol were calculated for 5 or 10 sessions. The annual financial and budgetary impact was calculated considering the groups of oncologic patients with a higher risk of development of OM, such as those with head and neck and hematological cancer and pediatric patients. Results: The cost of a PBM session was estimated at BRL 23.75. The financial impact of providing one preventive protocol per year for all oncologic patients would be BRL 14,282,680.00, 0.030% of the estimated budget for hospital and outpatient care of the BMH in 2022. The financial and budgetary impacts of providing one treatment for OM for all patients in one year would be BRL 2,225,630.31 (0.005%, most optimistic scenario) and BRL 4,451,355.63 (0.009%, most pessimistic scenario). Conclusion: The budgetary impact of implementing PBM protocols in the Brazilian Healthcare System is small, even in a pessimistic scenario.

Relação entre Senso de Coerência e experiência de cárie dentária em crianças de 5 a 10 anos / Relationship between Sense of Coherence and dental caries experience in children aged 5-10 years

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo compreender a relação entre o Senso de Coerência (SOC) dos responsáveis e a experiência de cárie dentária dos escolares de 5 a 10 anos da Escola de Educação Básica da Universidade Federal da Paraíba (EEBAS/UFPB). Participaram do estudo 120 crianças e responsáveis. Os exames clínicos foram realizados na própria escola, após assinatura do Termo de Consentimento Livre e Esclarecido (TCLE) pelos responsáveis. Os responsáveis responderam o SOC-13. Os dados obtidos foram submetidos à análise estatística descritiva e inferencial. Foi encontrado que os valores de ceo-d e CPO-d variaram 0 a 8, com 76,2% de valor para o componente cariado. Não houve associação estatisticamente significante entre o SOC dos responsáveis e a experiência de cárie dos alunos. Também não foi encontrada relação entre o SOC e ceo-d, idade, sexo e série escolar. No entanto, o SOC parece ter uma influência significativa no comportamento e impactar em aspectos socioeconômicos... (AU)

This study aimed to comprehend the relationship between parental Sense of Coherence (SOC) and dental caries experience in children aged 5-10 years at the Basic School of Federal University of Paraiba. The sample was composed of 120 children and their parents. Clinical examinations were performed at the school, after signing the Term of Free and Informed Consent (TFIC) by the parents. The parental SOC was measured using the 13-item version (SOC-13). The data obtained were submitted to descriptive and inferential statistical analyses. The values of dmft and DMFT ranged from 0 to 8, with a predominance of the decayed component (76.2%). There was no statistically significant association between parental SOC and dental caries experience in the students. In addition, parental SOC was not significantly associated with dmft, age, gender, or school grade. Nonetheless, the SOC seems to have a significant influence on behavior and impact on socio-economic aspects... (AU)

Self-Medication for Toothache and its Associated Factors in Children and Adolescents

Objective: To evaluate self-medication for toothache and its associated factors in children and adolescents. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out with 252 children/adolescents aged 6-16 years. A questionnaire was applied with questions related to demographic and socioeconomic characteristics; experience of, and self-medication for, toothache; as well as aspects related to the condition. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses (Pearson's Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test) were performed, with a 5% significance level. Results: The prevalence of toothache was 41.7%. In 96 cases analyzed, there was prevalence of 69.8% of self-medication for toothache. There were no statistically significant associations between self-medication for toothache and variables related to the children/adolescents (gender and age), their parents or guardians (age and schooling), socioeconomic characteristics (family income and number of people in the household) and aspects related to toothache (fever, crying and school absenteeism) (p>0.05). The most commonly used drug was paracetamol (60.7%), whose choice was based to its previous use by the study population for conditions not related to toothache (47.8%). Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of self-medication for toothache in the study population. No independent variable was associated with self-medication practice.