NUMERO: #20260258

Título: KNOWLEDGE OF COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS ON ORAL POTENTIALLY MALIGNANT DISORDERS AND ORAL CANCER

Nome do Apresentador: Ivan José CORREIA-NETO

Categoria do Trabalho: Pôster - Investigação Original (IO)

Área Temática: Estomatologia

Resumo: Objective: To train community health workers (CHWs) to identify oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) and oral cancer (OC), aiming at early recognition and appropriate referral. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted during a lecture-based training session for CHWs, with more than 220 participants. A structured, self-administered questionnaire assessed knowledge, yielding 182 valid responses. Results: Among participants, 91 (50.0%) knew what an oral medicine specialist is. Most had never heard of (103; 56.6%) or did not know OPMDs what are (128; 70.3%). There was high unawareness of leukoplakia (124; 68.1%), proliferative verrucous leukoplakia (157; 86.3%), erythroplakia (162; 89.0%), and actinic cheilitis (165; 90.7%). Additionally, 128 (70.3%) had never saw these lesions and 111 (61.0%) did not know any affected individuals. In contrast, most were aware of OC (170; 93.4%) and risk factors: tobacco (174; 95.6%), alcohol (164; 90.1%), and sun exposure for lip cancer (150; 82.4%). Although 147 (80.8%) had prior training, 106 (58.2%) did not feel prepared to counsel patients on prevention. Conclusion: Important gaps remain in knowledge and confidence. CHWs can support early detection by recognizing suspicious signs and referring patients, reinforcing the need for continuous education.

Autor 1:  Ivan José CORREIA-NETO

E-mail 1:  [email protected]

Autor 2:   Fernanda Maria Rovai BADO

E-mail 2:  [email protected]

Autor 3 :  Isabel Schausltz Pereira FAUSTINO

E-mail 3:  [email protected]

Autor 4:  Lara Maria Alencar Ramos INNOCENTINI

E-mail 4:  [email protected]

Autor 5:  Estela Kaminagakura TANGO

E-mail 5:  [email protected]

Autor 6:  Janete Dias ALMEIDA

E-mail 6:  [email protected]

Autor 7:  Márcio Ajudarte LOPES

E-mail 7:  [email protected]