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What haematopoietic stem cell transplant patients think about health and oral care: A qualitative study in a Brazilian health service
Author(s) -
Mendes S.R.,
Silva M.E.S.,
Firmo J.O.A.,
Abreu M.H.N.G.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
european journal of cancer care
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.849
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1365-2354
pISSN - 0961-5423
DOI - 10.1111/ecc.12851
Subject(s) - medicine , thematic analysis , stem cell , oral hygiene , health care , transplantation , qualitative research , family medicine , haematopoiesis , oral health , intensive care medicine , dentistry , social science , genetics , sociology , economics , biology , economic growth
Differences in the perceptions of treatment between healthcare team and patients should be identified, aiming to provide a more humanised health care. We sought to understand and evaluate the concepts regarding oral health and dental care among haematopoietic stem cell transplant patients. Individual semi‐structured interviews were conducted with patients, from both sexes, in the post‐haematopoietic stem cell transplant stage, who underwent dental treatment. All interviews were recorded and transcribed, respecting the spelling and syntax used by the interviewees. A thematic content analysis was performed, and three themes were assessed: what is oral health, why was pre‐transplant dental treatment performed, and what was the relevance of dental treatment for the haematopoietic stem cell transplant. Oral health was understood as the act of dental care through oral hygiene. The reason for performing prior dental treatment involves strict guidelines for transplants, and when questioned as to the importance of the dental treatment for transplants, the interviewed subjects’ statements focused on the prevention of infections during the low‐immunity stage. The individuals saw dental treatment as a step towards a successful transplant; their main concerns were not to re‐establish their oral health, but rather to end the dental treatment as quickly as possible.