Análise comparativa da percepção do discente de Odontologia sobre o perfil socio-econômico do idoso e a realidade do paciente odontogeriátrico da UFSM

Abstract

The objective of this study was to analyze, comparatively, the student's perception of the Dental Course of the Federal University of Santa Maria on the socioeconomic profile of the elderly and the reality of the odontogeriatric patient attended at this institution. For this, a questionnaire was applied, composed of 17 closed questions of multiple choice, aimed at the student or the elderly patient, but with the same content. The sample consisted of 95 patients aged greather than or equal to 60, and 298 regularly enrolled academics. Of the 17 socioeconomic characteristics evaluated in this study, students had an adequate perception of the reality of elderly patients in only 10 aspects: sex, race, marital status, retirees, work to supplement income, schooling, reason for seeking care, comparative evaluation of the oral condition, frequency of physical activities and frequency of religious activities (individual and group). The results of this study allow us to conclude that although students 'perceptions seem to be adequate in most of the aspects studied, there is still room for a considerable improvement in the students' perception about the socioeconomic reality of their possible elderly patient.