Assessment of the participation of dental surgeons in patient care teams - DOI: 10.4025/actascihealthsci.v31i2.6181

Abstract

The presence of patient assistance team becomes necessary in a hospital environment, especially for more debilitated patients hospitalized in Intensive Care Units (ICUs). However, not all health professionals act in ICUs. Dental surgeons, for example, are not found in this environment – which is contradictory, considering that oral health may be determinant to establish the patient’s health status in the ICU. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate, through interviews carried out with nursing professionals from 12 hospitals in Belem (northern Brazil), the participation of these professionals in multi/interdisciplinary teams in Intensive Care Units and verify whether the presence of dental surgeons is needed. The assessment revealed that 98% of the interviewers are part of interdisciplinary teams, and 86% of them consider necessary the presence of dental surgeons. It was therefore concluded that to combine the knowledge of a dentistry professional to a biomedical staff is very important for the patient.