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Brazilian Journal of Oral Sciences
Piracicaba Dental School - UNICAMP
EISSN:
Vol. 14, No. 3, 2015, pp. 234-239
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Bioline Code: os15042
Full paper language: English
Document type: Research Article
Document available free of charge
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Brazilian Journal of Oral Sciences, Vol. 14, No. 3, 2015, pp. 234-239
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Feasibility of including trained acupuncturists in the detection of oral lesions and oral cancer screening
dos Santos, Roberta Blanco; Zanin, Luciane & Flório, Flávia Martão
Abstract
Aim: To demonstrate the feasibility of enabling trained acupuncturist as professionals able to detect
oral lesions, with a role in the screening of oral cancer. Methods: This study was conducted in two
phases. In the first, 11 acupuncturists were trained for visual detection of oral lesions and support
content available on : wwww.kankou.com.br especially developed for this study. They were
evaluated at the end of training by a written exam. The inclusion criteria were to sign the consent
form and to obtain a minimum of 90% of correct answers in the assessment. Four acupuncturists
fulfilled both criteria and were included as study subjects. In the second phase, the subjects and the
researcher (gold standard) examined 43 volunteer patients. The inclusion criterion for volunteers
was just to sign the consent form. The volunteers’ sample was established by saturation. Volunteers
with changes deemed suspicious by the subjects were reexamined 15 days after the first examination.
Results: First exam: mouth alterations were detected in 56% (n=24) of the volunteers. Among the
alterations, 21% (n=5) were deemed suspicious by the subjects and 8% (n=2) by gold standard.
Second exam: two mouth alterations remained suspicious and these volunteers were referred to
the Dental Specialty Center for diagnosis and treatment. Compared to the gold standard, no injury
remained undetected by the subjects. Conclusions: This study concluded for the feasibility of
enabling trained acupuncturist to visually detect oral lesions and have a role in oral cancer
screening.
Keywords
acupuncture; mouth neoplasms; pathology; oral diagnosis; training
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© Copyright 2015 - Brazilian Journal of Oral Sciences Alternative site location: http://www.fop.unicamp.br/brjorals
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