Conhecimento dos ortodontistas de Belém-PA sobre a síndrome da apneia obstrutiva do sono

Abstract

Introduction: Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS) is a sleep disorder characterized by repetitive episodes of upper airway obstruction that occur during sleep. The treatment of OSAS is multidisciplinary, being the dentist, especially the orthodontist, one of the members of this team that plays a very important role in the treatment of OSAS. Objective: To evaluate the level of knowledge of orthodontists regarding different aspects of the OSAS, its diagnosis and treatment. Material and Methods: Fifty-two professionals specialized in orthodontics and a questionnaire was applied containing 11 questions related to the knowledge about OSAS, each question with 7 possible alternatives. After getting the data, the answers were analyzed and grouped into three groups that classified the level of knowledge about SAOS: low (0, 1 and 2), medium (3 and 4) and high (5 and 6). Results: 82.69% of the participants had previous knowledge of OSAS; 75% had no information during the undergrad course and 34.62% did not get any information during the orthodontics training; 42.31% have a high level of knowledge for the signs of OSAS, 40.38% reported to know the symptoms and how to make the diagnosis of OSAS; only 34.62% of participants reported knowing how to treat the OSAS. Conclusion: It was concluded that most of the specialists did not have undergraduate and postgraduate information about the OSAS, suggesting a deficient curriculum. However, the level of knowledge of signs, symptoms and the diagnosis of OSAS grows after undergraduation/orthodontics training, suggesting that these professionals acquired complementary knowledge by other means (e.g. readings, courses, and so on). Most orthodontists reported low knowledge about how to treat OSAS.