Oral health: knowledge of those responsible for hospitalized children with cancer

Abstract

Cancer is a disease that has disordered cell growth with the formation of tumors. The most common types of childhood and adolescent childhood cancer are leukemias, tumors of the central nervous system, and lymphomas. Objective: To evaluate the knowledge of those responsible for oral health practices and care of children assisted in the Polyclinic of Natal, who underwent antineoplastic treatment. In addition to knowing the main oral health practices performed by those responsible. Methods: A quantitative and descriptive cross-sectional study, carried out in the Natal Polyclinic Unit (Liga Norte Riograndense Contra o Câncer), located in Rio Grande do Norte. The sample consisted of 41 questionnaires applied individually to those responsible for the children aged 0 to 12 years who underwent cancer treatment, during March and April 2018. Results: It was found that 51% of the responsible identified some oral health problem in their children, and 43.9% of the children had already been affected by mucositis. Of the 41 hospitalized patients, 90.2% were accompanied by a dental surgeon during the antineoplastic treatment. Conclusion: The responsible ones had a great perception of the children’s oral health problems and knew the importance of the participation of the dentist during the are treatment. There is a need for more research on the subject, to establish a care protocol with oral hygiene of children hospitalized with cancer.