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The Dentist's Role in Southern Brazilian Teaching Hospitals: A Grounded Theory Study
Author(s) -
Mattevi Gianina Salton,
Ferreira de Mello Ana Lúcia Schaefer,
Scannapieco Frank Andrew,
Lemos Carcereri Daniela
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of dental education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.53
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1930-7837
pISSN - 0022-0337
DOI - 10.21815/jde.018.073
Subject(s) - grounded theory , dentistry , medicine , medical education , psychology , family medicine , sociology , qualitative research , anthropology
The aim of this study was to develop a theoretical model to describe the role that the dentist plays in Brazilian hospital settings. This qualitative study was based on the grounded theory research method. Participants were a total of 27 individuals in three groups: dentists and general practice and oral and maxillofacial surgery residents; faculty; and other health professionals who interacted with dental patients in the hospital setting during the 2012–13 year. Data were collected in three teaching hospitals in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil, through scripted interviews using open‐ended questions. The stages of collection, codification, ordination, and integration of data were guided by constant comparative techniques to formulate a theoretical model. The codes generated were organized into seven categories: identifying the hospital as a working and teaching environment; recalling the dentists’ professional pathways; reflecting on the dentist's work in the hospital; considering the political and organizational dimension of the role of the dentist in the hospital; understanding patients’ life and health contexts; education and professional practice; and moving on towards interdisciplinary practices in the hospital setting. Integrating the categories led to a theoretical model called “The Dentist's Role in the Hospital Setting: An Interdisciplinary Construction.” This theoretical model provides a framework to understand how dentists perform in the hospital setting, with a focus on interdisciplinary practice, which in this study was shown to be incipient and heterogeneous.