Cultural aspects in the understanding of chronic periodontitis: a qualitative study

This study aimed to analyze the concepts, beliefs, attitudes, and explanatory models related to chronic periodontitis among individuals with this disease in order to facilitate communications between dentists and patients and foster conscientious treatment adherence. The study sample consisted of 20...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Cadernos de saúde pública 2007-03, Vol.23 (3), p.681-690
Main Authors: Nuto, Sharmênia de Araújo Soares, Nations, Marilyn Kay, Costa, Iris do Céu Clara
Format: Article
Language:Portuguese
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Brazil
Chronic Disease
Cultural Characteristics
Female
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Health Services Accessibility
Health Status
Humans
Interviews as Topic
Male
Middle Aged
Periodontitis - ethnology
Periodontitis - psychology
Periodontitis - therapy
Qualitative Research
Self Care
Sick Role
Social Conditions
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Summary:This study aimed to analyze the concepts, beliefs, attitudes, and explanatory models related to chronic periodontitis among individuals with this disease in order to facilitate communications between dentists and patients and foster conscientious treatment adherence. The study sample consisted of 20 patients from the Periodontics Specialization Courses at Fortaleza University and the Brazilian Dental Association in Fortaleza, Ceará State. Data were gathered from October 2004 to January 2005. A qualitative methodological framework was used to interpret the patients' subjective expression. Semi-structured interviews were applied to obtain patients' accounts of their individual experience with the disease condition. Thematic discourse analysis used: empirical categories established within the study itself, simple frequencies and calculated percentages, and refinement of thematic classifications. According to their reports, patients understand the periodontal heath-disease process through the intermediation of both popular and scientific knowledge, involvement of living and work conditions, and access to quality care, i.e., they do not incorporate only the biomedical discourse.
ISSN:0102-311X
DOI:10.1590/S0102-311X2007000300026