Analysis of the strategic conduct of managers and professionals involved in oral cancer prevention and control

Abstract

Health managers and professionals are the agents responsible for implementing public policies in health services. It is therefore essential to understand how they act in everyday practice. The aim of this study was to analyze the strategic conduct of managers and professionals involved in oral cancer prevention and control. We conducted a qualitative study based on 23 interviews with oral health managers and professionals in five municipalities in the Metropolitana I health region in the state of Rio de Janeiro and three interviews with members of the oral health technical team of the state health department. We performed a strategic conduct analysis drawing on Anthony Giddens’ theory of structuration. The findings show that, sensitized by the representation of cancer in society, these agents act as potential facilitators of access to services, creating informal alternatives to more restrictive protocols. However, this mobilization only tends to occur in cases of suspected cancer, constituting an important contradiction. It is concluded that it is essential to improve access to primary care, enhance health promotion and cancer prevention actions, and promote continuing training to guarantee the right to early diagnosis and timely treatment of oral cancer.

Keywords
Oral Neoplasms; Health Policy; Oral health services