Feminisation of Dentistry in Brazil from the Perspective of a MOOC-Type Distance Course - A Short Report

DOI: https://doi.org/10.29086/JISfTeH.7.e6

Keywords: Women, distance learning, dentistry, MOOC, Brazil, continuing dental education

Abstract

The Brazilian public healthcare system (SUS - Brazilian Healthcare System) provides free dental care, covering almost half of the Brazilian population. Providing continuing education to thousands of professionals is a difficult and expensive task given the country’s large size. SUS' Open University in partnership with public universities provides ongoing education to thousands of healthcare professionals using technological resources for distance learning. A distance learning course, in the MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) modality, was developed to provide continuing medical education for dental surgeons to assist patients with chronic diseases. The course is free and has registered 13,089 participants. Aim: The purpose of this study is to present the profile of the MOOC course participants. Methods: Secondary data were obtained from Federal Council of Dentistry, the National Registry of Health Facilities, the National Institute for Educational Studies and Research Anísio Teixeira and the Registry of Higher Education Institutions and Courses (e-MEC). Data of the MOOC course were collected in the Arouca Platform. Results: Dentists in Brazil are predominantly female. However, in some specialties there are more men than women. The majority of participants on the course were female 73.5% and in the age group of 21-40 years. Conclusion: This phenomenon is similar to other countries, and needs to be better investigated in Brazil, so that public policies of continuing education of healthcare professionals by means of distance learning, may take the profession's feminisation into consideration.  

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Author Biographies

Deise Garrido, University of Sao Paulo
  • MSc
  • Department of Orthodontics and Paediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry of the University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
  • Telehealth and Teledentistry Centre, School of Dentistry of the University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
  • FOUSP-ABENO Station of the Human Health Resources Observatory Network, Brazilian Ministry of Health, Panamerican Health Organization
Camila Maldonado Huanca, University of Sao Paulo

Dental Doctor Science

Department of Orthodontics and Paediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry of the University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

Telehealth and Teledentistry Centre, School of Dentistry of the University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

FOUSP-ABENO Station of the Human Health Resources Observatory Network, Brazilian Ministry of Health, Panamerican Health Organization

Ana Emilia Oliveira, University of Sao Paulo
  • PhD
  • FOUSP-ABENO Station of the Human Health Resources Observatory Network, Brazilian Ministry of Health, Panamerican Health Organization
  • School of Dentistry, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luis, Maranhão, Brazil
  • Brazilian Healthcare System’s Open University of Brazil, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luis, Maranhão, Brazil
Maria Celeste Morita, Londrina State University
  • PhD
  • FOUSP-ABENO Station of the Human Health Resources Observatory Network, Brazilian Ministry of Health, Panamerican Health Organization
  • School of Dentistry of the Londrina State University, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
Ana Estela Haddad, University of Sao Paulo
  • PhD
  • Department of Orthodontics and Paediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry of the University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
  • Telehealth and Teledentistry Centre, School of Dentistry of the University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
  • FOUSP-ABENO Station of the Human Health Resources Observatory Network, Brazilian Ministry of Health, Panamerican Health Organization

References

Brazil. Ministry of Health. Datasus. National Registry of Health Facilities. (2018). Available at: http://cnes.datasus.gov.br/pages/consultas.jsp accessed 13 August 2018.

Brazil. Ministry of Health. UNA-SUS Brazilian Healthcare System’s Open University. (2018). Available at: https://www.unasus.gov.br accessed 10 August 2018.

Brazil. Ministry of Health. SUS’ Open University. Arouca Platform. (2018). Available at: https://www.unasus.gov.br/numeros/arouca accessed 13 August 2018.

Haslach SD, Aytepe Z, Kokkari A, et al. Country and gender differences in the motivation of dental students-An international comparison. Eur J Dent Educ 2018;22(4);e724-729. https://doi.org/10.1111/eje.12386

Federal Council of Dentistry. Federal Council of Dentistry. (2018). Available at: http://cfo.org.br/website/estatisticas/quantidade-geral-de-cirurgioes-dentistas-especialistas/ accessed 13 August 2018.

Brazil. Ministry of Education. e-MEC Registry of Higher Education Institutions and Courses. (2018). Available at: http://emec.mec.gov.br accessed 13 August 2018.

Brazil. Ministry of Education. National Institute for Educational Studies and Research Anísio Teixeira. (2018). Available at: http://portal.inep.gov.br/web/guest/educacao-superior accessed 13 August 2018.

Morita MC, Haddad AE, Araújo ME. Perfil Atual e Tendências do Cirurgião Dentista Brasileiro. In Perfil Atual e Tendências do Cirurgião Dentista Brasileiro, 2010.

Federal Council of Dentistry. Resolution CFO-186/2017. (2017). Available at: http://www.crosp.org.br/uploads/arquivo/a6925f6df8988e699d782bf6710554a1.pdf accessed 13 August 2018.

Brazilian Internet Steering Committee (CGI.br). Survey on the use of information and communication technologies in Brazilian households: ICT households 2017 [Internet]. São Paulo; 2016. Available at: https://www.cetic.br/media/docs/publicacoes/2/tic_dom_2017_livro_eletronico.pdf accessed 16 February 2019.

Published
2019-03-09
How to Cite
Garrido, D., Huanca, C., Oliveira, A., Morita, M., & Haddad, A. (2019). Feminisation of Dentistry in Brazil from the Perspective of a MOOC-Type Distance Course - A Short Report. Journal of the International Society for Telemedicine and EHealth, 7, e6 (1-4). https://doi.org/10.29086/JISfTeH.7.e6
Section
Special Theme: Women in eHealth