A capacitação dos Agentes Comunitários de Saúde (ACS) para a busca ativa das pessoas com alterações da normalidade nas mucosas da boca: contribuição para o diagnóstico das neoplasias orofaciais

Abstract

This study aimed at developing an active searching tool for mucosal alterations, capacitating Community Health Agents (ACS, in its acronym in Portuguese) in using this tool and evaluating the tool's validity and reproducibility. The training of these Health Agents (ACS) to identify oral mucosal alterations was done during the ACS's normal activities, interleaved by external activities (three sessions with a 10-day interval between them). 95 adults of different genders were evaluated, and the exams results were recorded on the developed tool. All people evaluated were subsequently examined by the researcher (Gold Standard). The results of the oral mucosa evaluations conducted by the ACS and the results of the examinations carried out by the researcher were analyzed and compared in terms of Sensitivity (55%), Specificity (67%) and as to the Kappa concordance index (39%) and Accuracy (59%). It was concluded that the developed tool proved to be efficient for use by the ACS and, despite the difficulties inherent in Brazilian public health service (SUS), these professionals have large possibilities of operating together with the Oral Health Team in the active search of people with oral mucosal alterations.