PROFILE AND CONDUCT OF DENTISTS IN PRIMARY HEALTH CARE FOR THE CARE OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

Abstract

Objective: To describe the profile and conduct of Primary Health Care dentists in a municipality in the north of Minas Gerais, in relation to the care of people with disabilities. Methodology: Quantitative cross-sectional study. Data was collected using a semi-structured questionnaire containing sociodemographic and economic questions, academic training and occupational data, and information on the conduct of dental care provided to people with disabilities. The data was analyzed by reporting the relative and absolute frequencies of the variables. Pearson's chi-square test and or Fisher's exact test were used in the bivariate analysis. The significance level adopted was 5.0%. Results: The profile observed was of dental surgeons with up to 5 years' experience in Primary Health Care (43.3%) and that there was a significant association between professionals with less time working in Primary Health Care and a better assessment of the quality of reception (p=0.022) and confirmation of the need for training regarding dental care provided to people with disabilities (p=0.027). Conclusion: Professionals with less time working in Primary Health Care better assessed the quality of the welcome provided by their Oral Health team and the need to train the team to care for people with disabilities, than those with more time working, demonstrating the need for more incentive in training in the area for these professionals, thus optimizing care for people with disabilities in the Unified Health System.