The dentist and the health family program in “microrregião II”, Ceará, Brazil

Abstract

The dentist, due to the traditional Dentistry curriculum’s outlining, which emphasizes much more the curative practices, is usually not properly prepared to execute a satisfactory preventive work. Considering that the Health Family Program (PSF) is developed in a relatively new area for the oral health, interest arose in evaluating these professionals’ satisfaction in the execution of a work which is greatly aimed at preventing and educating. This research had the purpose of evaluating the PSF dentists’ profile, considering important aspects such as the type of work developed by them, the dentists’ satisfaction in doing it, their motivation for it and also, their professional qualification. A quantitave methodological approach was applied in the study. The sample consisted of 18 interviews which involved professionals that already took part in the PSF distributed in eleven cities of the “Microrregião II” (2nd Micro-region) of Ceará. The data collected called out attention to several aspects related to the development of their activities. As negative aspects, there were pointed out the low incomes, the inadequate working conditions and the lack of working contracts, therefore setting great amount of dissatisfaction. The positive aspects included the promotion of multidisciplinary team work and the clientele’s delimitation, thus improving their attendance.