title: [Cultural aspects in the understanding of chronic periodontitis: a qualitative study].
abstract: This study aimed to analyze the concepts, beliefs, attitudes, and explanatory models related to chronic periodontitis among individuals with this disease in order to facilitate communications between dentists and patients and foster conscientious treatment adherence. The study sample consisted of 20 patients from the Periodontics Specialization Courses at Fortaleza University and the Brazilian Dental Association in Fortaleza, Ceará State. Data were gathered from October 2004 to January 2005. A qualitative methodological framework was used to interpret the patients' subjective expression. Semi-structured interviews were applied to obtain patients' accounts of their individual experience with the disease condition. Thematic discourse analysis used: empirical categories established within the study itself, simple frequencies and calculated percentages, and refinement of thematic classifications. According to their reports, patients understand the periodontal heath-disease process through the intermediation of both popular and scientific knowledge, involvement of living and work conditions, and access to quality care, i.e., they do not incorporate only the biomedical discourse.
authors.affiliation: Universidade de Fortaleza, Rua Marlio Fernandes 81, Fortaleza, CE 60811-370, Brazil. nuto@unifor.br
authors.forename: Sharmênia de Araújo Soares
authors.initials: Sde A
authors.lastname: Nuto
authors.forename: Marilyn Kay
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Nations
authors.forename: Iris do Céu Clara
authors.initials: Ido C
authors.lastname: Costa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012648:Self Care; D012803:Sick Role; D012924:Social Conditions