The Dentist's Role in Southern Brazilian Teaching Hospitals: A Grounded Theory Study

Abstract

The aim of this study was to develop a theoretical model to describe the role that the dentist plays in Brazilian hospital settings. This qualitative study was based on the grounded theory research method. Participants were a total of 27 individuals in three groups: dentists and general practice and oral and maxillofacial surgery residents; faculty; and other health professionals who interacted with dental patients in the hospital setting during the 2012-13 year. Data were collected in three teaching hospitals in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil, through scripted interviews using open-ended questions. The stages of collection, codification, ordination, and integration of data were guided by constant comparative techniques to formulate a theoretical model. The codes generated were organized into seven categories: identifying the hospital as a working and teaching environment; recalling the dentists' professional pathways; reflecting on the dentist's work in the hospital; considering the political and organizational dimension of the role of the dentist in the hospital; understanding patients' life and health contexts; education and professional practice; and moving on towards interdisciplinary practices in the hospital setting. Integrating the categories led to a theoretical model called "The Dentist's Role in the Hospital Setting: An Interdisciplinary Construction." This theoretical model provides a framework to understand how dentists perform in the hospital setting, with a focus on interdisciplinary practice, which in this study was shown to be incipient and heterogeneous.

Oral hygiene prior to cardiac surgery to prevent infections: Randomized clinical trial

“…2 Thus, it is considered important that future research focus on identifying which oral hygiene intervention would be ideal and effective, considering the reality of the hospital and its professionals, as well as the strategies that would be necessary for the oral health care in a more comprehensive way. 56,57 It is important to address our study's limitations.…”

“…The application of an oral hygiene protocol could be a feasible and simple strategy to be used in the preoperative period of inpatients who will undergo cardiovascular surgery 2 . Thus, it is considered important that future research focus on identifying which oral hygiene intervention would be ideal and effective, considering the reality of the hospital and its professionals, as well as the strategies that would be necessary for the oral health care in a more comprehensive way 56,57 …”

“Buckets”

“…Our first article in this section reports on a study, conducted by a team of dental and pharmacy faculty, of dental patients’ attitudes about disclosing their daily medications to their oral health care provider 1 . Previously published articles that we forced into existing sections at the time, but would fit more appropriately in this new section include those that addressed dental practitioners’ implementation of tobacco cessation with their patients, 2 racial/ethnic minority older adults’ perspectives on oral health care, 3 and dentists’ role in teaching hospitals in Brazil 4 …”