Dr. Alvaro MagliaAcademic Assistant of the Dental School - University of the Republic, Uruguay
The following professional schools are participating in the multi-professional program:
· Medical School, with its associated Schools of Nursing, Nutrition and Dietetics, Medical Technology and Midwifery
· Dental School and its associated School of Dental Technology
· Psychology Institute
· Social Sciences School, through its career of Social Services and the Sociology Department,
· Communication Sciences School
· Library School and Related Sciences
· Schools of Law, Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine are presently in the process of joining the Project.
Coordination and integration is being managed through a Multiprofessional University Group, consisting of representatives from respective professional components. The university, along with organizations responsible for sanitation, are also part of an inter-institutional coordination group which facilitates discussion and teamwork in joint project activities.
Within the scope of the APEX Program, two activities with dental components were defined:
1. Education-prevention in the community, interdisciplinary activities integrated with other APEX sub-programs, to be developed in organizations of the area.
2. Education-prevention-treatment at the dental center.
These programs consist of the following activities:
· Socio-epidemiological research: Setting up a work group; registration form design; training and calibration of examiners; carrying out research studies; data analysis and processing; publishing of the results; service programming in the dental system.
· Health education: Activities directed toward health professionals, teachers and students, and the public; activities directed toward community leadership development.
· Preventive activities: Reinforcing the implementation of preventive measures (e.g. salt fluoridation); operating community plaque control programs, training health personnel and public education regarding prevention and early diagnosis of oral cancer (including self-exam); mandatory infection control measures in community dental practice; promoting practices which foster normal dentition growth and development; and the prevention, detection and control of malocclusion.
· Clinical assistance: Work system: service access and coverage; ergonomics; equipment and supplies; clinical techniques; preventive, treatment, and maintenance procedures; referral networks; coordination.
· Identification and follow-up for high risk populations: Selection of target populations; establishing preventive measures appropriate to existing risk factors; establishing mechanisms to ensure community participation in maintaining oral health.
· Research: To conduct a socio-epidemiological survey and promote research in areas such as community services management and clinical technology; training on research methodologies appropriate for undergraduate and graduate levels.
· Coordination: To identify resource requirements; obtain needed support and coordinate funding; define program details with regard to technical levels (based on complexity); establish referral mechanisms, and coordinate the use of educational resources.
· Evaluation: To define methods and guidelines for successive stages and modify programming accordingly.
To execute these programs, twenty-six teachers were given assignments which will be in progress at the time this Bulletin is published. This group of teachers will be responsible for 250 students in different levels of training in dentistry and dental auxiliary occupations (dental hygiene, assisting, and laboratory technology). These students will be selected based on their high academic performance; they will conduct part of their curricular studies and practical training in health service settings.
Clinical training will take place in a ten-chair facility which is managed by the community. Support is provided by the Montevideo City Council, the School of Dentistry, and the APEX Program. Plans call for an extended work schedule, consisting of morning, afternoon and evening shifts throughout the year.
Sub-programs are also being developed at the request of teachers who are functioning as community representatives in program development. Principal activities involve the organization of children's activities in areas of health promotion and the early detection and prevention of dental disease. In select cases, referrals are made to the clinic for clinical dental care.
The implementation of multi-professional activities has been difficult to establish. In spite of this fact, the Santa Catarina Family Health Program has been established as a multiprofessional program of integrated health care for a resident population of some 2,000. In addition, several other multiprofessional activities are presently being explored by the multidisciplinary planning group at the University.