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. 2023 Dec 31;36(3):140-149.
doi: 10.54589/aol.36/3/140.

Phytotherapy: knowledge, experience and prescription in oral healthcare. A cross-sectional survey of dental practitioners

Rosemary SA Shinkai  1   2 , Tomie T de Campos  2 , Lucas S Mendes  2 , Lena Katekawa  3 , Edgard Michel-Crosato  4 , Maria GH Biazevic  4
Affiliations

Phytotherapy: knowledge, experience and prescription in oral healthcare. A cross-sectional survey of dental practitioners

Rosemary SA Shinkai et al. Acta Odontol Latinoam. .

Abstract
in English, Portuguese

Herbal medicine is widely used as an integrative complementary treatment for common chronic diseases, yet potential risks include adverse effects and coprescription.

Aim: This exploratory survey assessed Brazilian dentists' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding phytotherapy.

Material and method: This study used a consecutive sample of registered dentists who were active in clinical practice and attending advanced training for complex oral rehabilitation at a leading dental school in Latin America. Participants responded to a semi-structured 38-item instrument designed to collect data on sociodemographic, professional and health variables, and on their knowledge, use, prescription and opinions of phytotherapy. Quantitative data were analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics. Qualitative data were described and analyzed with a thematic approach.

Results: A total 53 dentists responded the survey (88.3% response rate). Six dentists reported formal education in phytotherapy and 33 had informal knowledge. Twenty-one dentists (39.6%) reported using herbal medicine, and 17 (32.1%) prescribed phytotherapy to their patients, mostly traditional medicinal plants. A logistic regression model showed that post-graduate degree and personal use of phytotherapy were associated with phytotherapy prescription. Opinions on how to improve the rational use of phytotherapy included the need for research evidence, specific academic education, and knowledge dissemination to clinicians. As a clinical recommendation, it was proposed that questions on herbal medicine should be asked during the dental patient's anamnesis.

Conclusions: Dentists with post-graduate degrees and personal use of phytotherapy prescribe herbal medicines for their patients in real-world clinics, regardless of formal education on the subject. Qualitative findings indicate the need to implement scientific initiatives.

A fitoterapia é amplamente utilizada como um tratamento integrativo e complementar para doenças crônicas comuns, mas os riscos potenciais incluem efeitos adversos e co-prescrição.

Objetivo: Esta pesquisa exploratória avaliou o conhecimento, as atitudes e as práticas de cirurgiões-dentistas brasileiros sobre fitoterapia.

Materiais e método: Uma amostra consecutiva foi composta por dentistas com registro profissional, que eram ativos em prática clínica e frequentavam treinamento avançado para reabilitação oral complexa em uma das principais escolas de odontologia da América Latina. Os participantes responderam a um instrumento semiestruturado de 38 itens para coletar dados sobre variáveis sociodemográficas, profissionais e de saúde, bem como conhecimento, uso, prescrição e opiniões sobre fitoterapia. Os dados quantitativos foram analisados com estatística descritiva e inferencial. Os dados qualitativos foram descritos e analisados com abordagem temática.

Resultados: Um total de 53 dentistas respondeu à pesquisa (taxa de resposta de 88,3%). Seis cirurgiões-dentistas relataram formação em fitoterapia e 33 possuíam conhecimento informal. Vinte e um dentistas (39,6%) relataram o uso de fitoterápicos e 17 (32,1%) prescreveram fitoterapia para seus pacientes, principalmente plantas medicinais tradicionais. Um modelo de regressão logística mostrou que pós-graduação e uso pessoal de fitoterapia estiveram associados à prescrição de fitoterapia. As opiniões para melhorar o uso racional da fitoterapia incluíram a necessidade de evidências de pesquisa, formação acadêmica específica e disseminação do conhecimento para os clínicos. Como recomendação clínica, foram propostas questões sobre fitoterapia para a anamnese odontológica do paciente.

Conclusões: Cirurgiões-dentistas com pós-graduação e uso pessoal de fitoterapia prescrevem mais medicamentos fitoterápicos para seus pacientes em clínicas do mundo real, independentemente da educação formal sobre o assunto. Os resultados qualitativos indicam a necessidade de iniciativas de implementação científica.

Keywords: herbal medicine; oral health; perception; phytotherapy.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no potential conflicts of interest regarding the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

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