Medicamentos pediátricos e cárie dentária
: perceções e atitudes dos médicos de medicina geral e familiar

  • Débora Rafaela Soares Monteiro (Student)

Student thesis: Master's Thesis

Abstract

Introduction: The vast majority of drugs in the form of suspension, designed for children, have some kind of sugar in their composition, in order to make their intake more enjoyable, which gives them an increased cariogenic potential. Family medicine physicians are involved in monitoring pediatric patients, controlling their systemic health, fact that often requires the prescription of liquid medications. As health promoters, who routinely contact with pediatric patients, this medical specialty has a very important role in the prevention of oral diseases, including caries. The aim of this study was to evaluate in a descriptive analysis, the perceptions and attitudes of these health professionals about the cariogenic potential of pediatric liquid medicines, particularly when they are administered on a regular basis, taking into account the sugar composition and the causal and predisposing factors for the indicated pathology. Methods: We conducted an online questionnaire to 107 doctors nationally. A survey was made in the package of different drugs through Infarmed. Results: 86% of general practitioners considers the relationship between the intake of pediatric liquid medicines and the appearance of carious lesions, which demonstrates a reasonable awareness of the relationship between the use of pediatric liquid medicines and dental defects, because of its strong cariogenic potential. However, only 26.2% of them pay attention to the importance of performing dental check-ups when the patient takes pediatric liquid medicines regularly. In addition, the greater percentage of clinical recommendation does not perform water rinses after medicine intake (83.2%). Similarly, more than half of health professionals does not motivate or instruct for oral hygiene (54.2%), after taking the medicine. Except for two clinical, all others (98.1%) do not recommend the use of chewing gum, sugarless, after taking the drugs. Conclusions: We conclude that the vast majority of general and family doctors do not advise any kind of preventive dental health care after taking pediatric liquid medicines, which shows that, despite knowledge of the problem, there is lack of awareness.
Date of Award26 Jul 2016
Original languagePortuguese
Awarding Institution
  • Universidade Católica Portuguesa
SupervisorAndreia Sofia de Paiva Figueiredo (Supervisor) & Mariana Pinheiro Torres de Seabra (Co-Supervisor)

Keywords

  • Tooth decay
  • Pediatric medicines
  • Prescription drugs
  • Family medicine
  • Pediatric

Designation

  • Mestrado em Medicina Dentária

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