Laser therapy applied to orofacial motricity: perception of members of the Brazilian Orofacial Motricity Association - Abramo

• Main Authors: Asenate Soares de Matos, Giédre Berretin-Felix, Rafael Nóbrega Bandeira, Jully Anne Soares de Lima, Larissa Nadjara Alves Almeida, Giorvan Ânderson dos Santos Alves
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: CEFAC Saúde e Educação
• Series: Revista CEFAC
• Subjects: Terapia por Luz de Baixa Intensidade; Terapia a Laser; Fonoaudiologia; Fonoterapia
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1516-18462018000100061&lng=en&tlng=en

ABSTRACT Purpose: to know the profile of members of the Brazilian Association of Orofacial Motricity and their knowledge and interest on laser therapy in Orofacial Motricity. Methods: an online form was elaborated covering questions about the speech therapist’s profile, training, and acting, as well as his/her knowledge about the theories of laser therapy and its clinical application. The form was sent via e-mail to members of the Brazilian Association of Orofacial Motricity - ABRAMO, registered in the year 2015. Data were analyzed through descriptive statistics and the Spearman’s correlation test. Results: only 5 (19.2%) out of the 26 participants reported having contact with laser equipment, and of these, only 1 (3.8%) used it in his/her practice. Regarding knowledge of the method, only 2 (7.7%) were trained, and the majority, 14 speech therapists (53.8%), had an interest in acquiring knowledge on this subject. Speech therapists with a longer training period were unaware of laser therapy (p = 0.03) and did not agree on the use (p = 0.01), but claimed to be interested in the subject (p = 0.05). Conclusion: it was possible to verify that the interest in improvement and insertion in the clinical practice in laser therapy are realities for the research volunteers, but a very small number has the knowledge and makes use of the technique in their interventions.