Avaliação do conhecimento de acadêmicos do curso de odontologia sobre a osteorradionecrose

Abstract

Osteoradionecrosis (ORN) is one of the most serious late oral complications of head and neck cancer treatment. ORN occurs as a consequence of high doses of radiotherapy, which favors ischemia of the gnathic bones and increases the risk of developing bone necrosis. The objective of this study was to evaluate the level of knowledge about ORN of finalists of the dentistry course in the city of Uberlândia-MG. This is a descriptive and exploratory study carried out remotely, through a questionnaire with 14 questions, which was sent by email to students from two Faculties. The collected data were evaluated using descriptive statistics (absolute number, percentage, measures of central tendency and variance) and inferential (chi square). 73 complete responses were obtained, of which 48 (65.75%) were studying Dentistry in a five-year curriculum and 25 (34.25%) in a four-year curriculum. From the students interviewed, the results of chi-square test showed that there was a difference in knowledge about the concept of the ORN (p=0.0222) and prevention of the ORN (p=0.0312). In addition, the results of chi-square test suggest that students with a longer course had more opportunity to care for cancer patients who had or were undergoing treatment with radiotherapy in the head and neck region of the (p=0.0020) and patients with complications. oral or facial lesions developed after treatment with radiotherapy (p=0.0208). From this research, was possible to conclude that the shorter duration of the course may be related to the loss of the curriculum in addressing this topic at graduation. For future professionals, it is essential to prepare clinical practice aiming at good prevention, establishment of diagnosis and treatment of oral complications of radiotherapy, an increasingly frequent treatment for patients.