Tan CXW, Brand HS, Qaddour O, van der Bijl PML, De Boer NKH, Forouzanfar T, de Visscher JGAM. Knowledge and Interdisciplinary Communication of Gastroenterologists and Dentists in the Netherlands About Gastrointestinal Diseases With Oral Manifestations.
CROHN'S & COLITIS 360 2022;
4:otac006. [PMID:
36777554 PMCID:
PMC9802256 DOI:
10.1093/crocol/otac006]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background
Gastrointestinal diseases can have oral manifestations. The aim of this study was to investigate the knowledge of gastroenterologists and dentists about gastrointestinal diseases with oral manifestations and to assess the frequency, extent and content of communication between gastroenterologists and oral healthcare professionals.
Methods
Separate questionnaires were developed and sent to all 523 gastroenterologists and a random selection of 500 dentists in the Netherlands. Both questionnaires contained questions about demographic characteristics of the participants, 10 statements about gastrointestinal diseases with possible oral manifestations and questions about the communication between gastroenterologists and oral healthcare professionals. Additionally, the questionnaire for gastroenterologists contained 9 statements about general dentistry and the questionnaire for dentist had 9 questions about gastrointestinal diseases.
Results
Gastroenterologists answered 47.6% ± 31.9% of the questions correct about gastrointestinal diseases with possible oral manifestations and 57.5% ± 27.9% of the questions correct about general dentistry. Dentists answered 26.6% ± 20.5% of the questions correct about possible oral manifestations of gastrointestinal diseases and 50.3% ± 18.7% of the questions correct about gastrointestinal diseases. Gastroenterologists and dentists valued interdisciplinary consultation as very useful with scores of 4.07 ± 0.70 and 4.67 ± 0.49 on a 5-point Likert scale, respectively, but the frequency of consultation was considered insufficiently with a mean score of 2.88 ± 1.01 and 2.24 ± 1.05 on a 5-point Likert scale, respectively.
Conclusions
This study suggests that the knowledge of gastroenterologists and dentists about gastrointestinal diseases with oral manifestations could be improved. Interdisciplinary consultation was considered valuable for the optimal treatment of their patients but was assessed as insufficient.
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