Access to and Satisfaction with Oral Health Care from the Perspective of Pediatric Cancer Patients and Their Caregivers

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the access to dental care and the oral health care provided to cancer patients aged zero to 19 years old; to detect possible difficulties hindering the delivery of oral health care; and to identify the main oral complications associated with anticancer treatment. Material and Methods: Interviews were conducted with 84 children and adolescents (or their caregivers) who were treated at Napoleão Laureano Hospital, João Pessoa County, Paraíba, Brazil; the interviews were recorded in audio files. The data were analyzed based on systematic reading of the interviews according to the content analysis technique. Results: Six categories were established: Access to health care services, which was reported as posing difficulties by only 16.6% of the sample; Access to the hospital, considering that 40.4% of the participants reported traveling to the hospital in cars provided by the city government; Dental care, which was procured at basic health units (BHUs) by 52.3% of the participants; Conceptions on oral health care, in which 64.2% of the participants mentioned cariogenic diets and/or poor oral hygiene; Quality of life perception, whereby 70.2% of the interviewees reported to be satisfied or very satisfied and 63.0% rated their quality of life good or very good; and Health problems derived from treatment, with nausea being the most mentioned (27.2%). Conclusion: The patients did not meet difficulties in the procurement of dental care, which was most often sought at BHUs; they were satisfied or very satisfied with their health and rated their quality of life as good or very good.

Differences between the oral changes presented by patients with solid and hematologic tumors during the chemotherapeutic treatment

“…From these changes, complications in oral functions also occur and patients may become unable to feed or communicate. Moreover, oral mucositis can spread throughout the gastrointestinal tract, 8 , 9 resulting in severe discomfort that can prevent these individuals from chewing, swallowing, and speaking 10 – 13 …”

Evaluation of Oral Mucositis Occurrence in Oncologic Patients under Antineoplastic Therapy Submitted to the Low-Level Laser Coadjuvant Therapy

“…The main forms of treatment for malignant neoplasms are chemotherapy and radiotherapy, which often cause various side effects such as oral mucositis (OM) [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ]. This condition begins asymptomatic and, later, an erythema appears, which may be followed by erosion or ulceration of the oral mucosa, sometimes covered by a fibrinopurulent pseudomembrane and may lead to spontaneous bleeding [ 3 , 11 ].…”

Occurrence and Severity of Oral Mucositis in Brazilian Pediatric Cancer Patients

“…This configuration does not favor an early diagnosis of childhood cancer and contributes to an increased risk of death [25,26]. In a previous study, pediatric cancer patients from the state of Paraíba and / or their family members or caregivers reported they were provided with transportation to/from the HNL Pediatric Oncology Sector by the municipal administration [27]. Our findings indicated a higher prevalence of hematological neoplasms (66.7% of cases) in the study sample.…”

“…A study carried out in the HNL Pediatric Oncology Sector surveyed patient access to the hospital and their satisfaction with dental care services. The authors reported that most patients did not experience difficulties when seeking dental care in healthcare facilities close to their households [27].…”