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Vellappally S, Naik S, Thomas RP, Alsadon O, Alayadi H, Hashem M, Alwadi MAM, Thomas NG, Ali HM, Alsarani MM, Anil S. Knowledge of the monkeypox 2022 outbreak among dental hygienists and students in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study. Int J Dent Hyg 2024; 22:187-193. [PMID: 37722074 DOI: 10.1111/idh.12744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2022] [Revised: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to assess the knowledge of monkeypox infection among dental hygiene professionals and students in Saudi Arabia. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted among a convenience sample of dental hygiene professionals (n = 259). The questionnaire was developed based on previous literature, and descriptive analysis and a Chi-square test were performed. RESULTS A total of 159 dental hygienists responded to the questionnaire. Results indicated that only 1.7% had good knowledge, 7.7% had moderate knowledge and 90.6% had low knowledge of the monkeypox outbreak. The mean knowledge scores varied among dental hygiene students, practitioners and faculty members. Significant group differences were observed for some questions (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION Our study concludes that dental hygienists had moderate to low level of knowledge of the monkeypox infection and its implications for oral health and patient care, indicating a need for more education on the subject.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sajith Vellappally
- Department of Dental Health, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sachin Naik
- Department of Dental Health, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rohit Philip Thomas
- Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Klinikum Oldenburg University Hospital, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Omar Alsadon
- Department of Dental Health, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Haya Alayadi
- Department of Dental Health, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohamed Hashem
- Department of Dental Health, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Maram Ali M Alwadi
- Department of Dental Health, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nebu George Thomas
- Department of Periodontology, Pushpagiri College of Dental Sciences, Thiruvalla, India
| | | | - Majed M Alsarani
- Department of Dental Health, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sukumaran Anil
- Department of Dentistry, Oral Health Institute, Hamad Medical Cooperation, Doha, Qatar
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Alessa N, Fathi W. Assessment of Dental Patients' Awareness of the Correlation Between Systemic and Periodontal Diseases: A Questionnaire-Based Study. Cureus 2023; 15:e47355. [PMID: 38021863 PMCID: PMC10657404 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.47355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM The correlation between periodontal diseases and systemic diseases has been proven. Considering the high prevalence of periodontitis, as well as the high prevalence of systemic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and anemia, in Saudi Arabia, patients visiting dental clinics need to be educated about this correlation. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge and awareness levels of dental patients on the correlation between periodontal and systemic diseases and compare the awareness levels of the population based on their gender, educational level, and age group specifications. METHODOLOGY The awareness level of patients was assessed using a questionnaire consisting of 18 questions about the correlation between periodontal and systemic health, along with demographic data (gender, age, and educational level). The questionnaire was distributed to randomly chosen patients who were attending Qassim University dental clinics. Patients could select their responses from three options: "yes," "no," and "no idea." The awareness level of patients was categorized based on their educational qualifications, age, and gender. RESULTS A total of 252 patients participated in the study. Out of the 252 patients, 116 (46%) were male, and the remaining 136 (54%) were female. Females were found to be more aware of the correlation between pregnancy and anemia, independently, and periodontal diseases. Additionally, younger age groups were found to be more aware of the interaction between periodontal diseases and hyperparathyroidism. However, the awareness level based on educational qualification was almost equivalent between high school and college graduates. CONCLUSION The general public of the Qassim region of Saudi Arabia needs to be educated further on the correlation between systemic and periodontal disease. Being part of the community, we wish to contribute to improving the level of awareness about the relationship between periodontal and systemic diseases, as our study has concluded that more efforts are required to achieve higher health standards.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nouf Alessa
- Department of Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Qassim University, Buraydah, SAU
| | - Wesam Fathi
- Department of Periodontology, College of Dentistry, Qassim University, Buraydah, SAU
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de Medeiros RA, da Silva YM, Miranda YMS, Gomes DDS, Carvalho TRB, Tanaka EB, de Oliveira PGFP, Nogueira JSE, de Menezes SAF, Menezes TODA, Laurentino RV, Fonseca RRDS, Machado LFA. Digital Form for Assessing Dentistry Undergraduates Regarding Periodontal Disease Associated with Cardiovascular Diseases. Medicina (B Aires) 2023; 59:medicina59030509. [PMID: 36984510 PMCID: PMC10053880 DOI: 10.3390/medicina59030509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Revised: 01/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Throughout recent years, periodontal disease (PD) has been linked to innumerable medical systemic conditions, such as cardiovascular disease (CVD). This association could negatively impact oral health, so the knowledge of dentists who have graduated must follow modern dentistry in order to promote oral health, mainly in systemically compromised patients. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine and evaluate the knowledge level of dentistry undergraduate students (DUS) regarding the correct periodontal treatment and management of cardiac patients with PD. Methods: This cross-sectional and populational-based study was conducted between March and June 2022 in northern Brazil. A total of 153 DUS received an anonymous digital form (Google Forms Platform) using a non-probabilistic “snowball” sampling technique. The digital form was composed of four blocks of dichotomous and multiple-choice questions. After signing the informed consent term, DUS were divided into three groups according to their period/semester in dentistry graduation during the study time (G1: 1st period/semester; G2: 5th period/semester and G3: 10th period/semester). A total of 25 questions referring to demographic, educational and knowledge data about the dental and periodontal care of cardiac patients with PD were asked, and all data were presented as descriptive percentages and then analyzed using the Kappa test. Results: From a total of 153 (100%) DUS, the sample was mostly composed of 104 (68%) female participants, with an average age of 21.1 years. Regarding basic knowledge, the majority of answers were no, with G1 being higher than G2 and G3. Regarding clinical questions, 1247 (58.3%) answers were no. Additionally, regarding fundamental clinical questions 1, 2, 3, 7, 9, 11, 13 and 14, the majority of G1, G2 and G3 answered no, demonstrating a major lack of knowledge. Conclusions: In our study, DUS demonstrated a low knowledge level of the dental and periodontal care of cardiac patients with PD and its bi-directional link. Thus, according to our results, an improvement in dentistry educational programs regarding periodontal medicine must be implemented.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Erich Brito Tanaka
- School of Dentistry, University Center of State of Pará, Belém 66060-575, PA, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | - Rogério Valois Laurentino
- Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents Post-Graduate Program, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil
- Virology Laboratory, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Roberto de Souza Fonseca
- Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents Post-Graduate Program, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil
- Virology Laboratory, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil
| | - Luiz Fernando Almeida Machado
- Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents Post-Graduate Program, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil
- Virology Laboratory, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil
- Correspondence:
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Asiri FYI, Tennant M, Kruger E. Oral Health Status, Oral Health Behaviors, and Oral Health Care Utilization among Persons with Disabilities in Saudi Arabia. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph192416633. [PMID: 36554514 PMCID: PMC9778877 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192416633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 12/04/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Various studies have indicated that persons with special needs may face several barriers to dental treatment, which increases the prevalence of oral diseases in this population. Moreover, these studies suggested that Saudis with special needs have a higher prevalence of oral diseases, such as dental caries and periodontal disease. The aim of this review is to synthesize evidence regarding the current status, trends in oral health behaviors, and oral health care utilization among these individuals, as well as to assess the quality of the literature. Furthermore, this review seeks to recommend directions for future research and oral health care policymaking. An electronic search was conducted using the following databases and registers: PubMed/Medline, Embase, ISI Web of Science, Scopus, ClinicalTrials.gov, and CENTRAL. Gray literature, which included conference proceedings and unpublished literature, was searched via the library services and Google/Google Scholar, and the quality of studies was assessed using the AXIS scale for cross-sectional studies. A total of 38 studies were included in this review, with the majority of the studies graded as 'low'. Within the limitations of this study, it can be concluded that individuals with special needs have limited access to oral health care, poor oral health status, and a general lack of awareness in regard to oral health. Therefore, nationwide surveys should be carried out to ascertain the actual extent of the oral inequities among individuals with special needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faris Yahya I. Asiri
- Department of Preventive Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia
- International Research Collaboration—Oral Health and Equity, School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Marc Tennant
- International Research Collaboration—Oral Health and Equity, School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Estie Kruger
- International Research Collaboration—Oral Health and Equity, School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
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Wang Q, Chen H, Jiang L. Assessment of the professional dental cleaning knowledge, behavior and medical compliance among dentists, medical doctors and non-medical staffs: a cross sectional study in Chongqing, China. BMC Oral Health 2022; 22:188. [PMID: 35590315 PMCID: PMC9118795 DOI: 10.1186/s12903-022-02226-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The professional dental cleaning (PDC) is an effective supplement that can make up for the lack of self-oral health care. Everyone should develop the habit of regular PDC. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge, behaviors and medical compliance of dentists, medical doctors and non-medical staffs about the PDC, identify the gaps, and provide information to help individuals develop healthy oral hygiene habit. MATERIALS AND METHODS A web-based survey with 21 questions designed based on the characteristics, the PDC knowledge, behaviors, and medical compliance of respondents. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the main districts of Chongqing, China, in the period of September-November 2020. A total of 456 respondents including 153 dentists, 137 medical doctors and 166 non-medical staffs in 3 communities and 4 hospitals were sampled online with multistage sampling and surveyed. The data was analyzed by chi-square test using IBM SPSS Statistics v. 21.0. RESULTS The cognitive level and behavior of dentists on the PDC was significantly better than that of medical doctors and non-medical staffs (p = 0.000-0.044). The rates of not knowing "dental plaque" were 32.85% and 61.45%, of the medical doctors and non-medical staffs. Meanwhile, most of them had misunderstanding about effects of the PDC. They thought it would whiten teeth (72.99%, 80.72%), damage gums (16.79%, 19.88%) and teeth (15.33%, 21.69%), and create bigger gaps between teeth (24.82%, 33.13%). In terms of gum health and the PDC behavior, significant differences were observed, 23.53% of dentists experienced irritated gum bleeding in the last 12 months, 42.28% did not have their teeth cleaned professionally in the last 12 months, even 7.84% never had it before. Compared with it, in the same situation, the ratios of medical doctors and non-medical staffs were about 60% experiencing irritated gum bleeding, 69.34% and 77.71% not experiencing the PDC in the last 12 months, up to 33.58% and 45.18% never experienced it before. 41 respondents (8.99%) disagreed with the reasonable and necessary medical behaviors before the PDC. CONCLUSION People's understanding about the PDC was insufficient, and many people, included some dentists, had not developed the habit of regular dental cleaning. Our study provided a new understanding of the PDC among dentists, medical doctors, and non-medical staffs, which may help to improve their awareness and behavior of oral hygiene health, and establish the multidisciplinary collaborations between dentists and medical doctors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Wang
- College of Stomatology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory for Oral Diseases and Biomedical Sciences, College of Stomatology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Hengzhu Chen
- College of Stomatology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory for Oral Diseases and Biomedical Sciences, College of Stomatology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Lin Jiang
- College of Stomatology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China. .,Chongqing Key Laboratory for Oral Diseases and Biomedical Sciences, College of Stomatology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.
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Medical Conditions, Oral Health Practices, and Barriers to Treatment among Patients Visiting a Teaching Dental Hospital in Eastern Saudi Arabia. ScientificWorldJournal 2022; 2022:4495757. [PMID: 35153627 PMCID: PMC8837447 DOI: 10.1155/2022/4495757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To assess the prevalence of medical conditions, oral hygiene practices, and dental visits among patients who attended a teaching dental hospital in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. Materials & Methods. This retrospective cross-sectional study used patient records from 2009 to 2015 from the dental hospital of the College of Dentistry Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam. Patients' demographics, medical history, oral hygiene practices, reasons for attending the facility, attendance patterns, and smoking habits were studied. Results The study included 1502 records of patients with 65.1% of males and 34.9% of females. The prevalence of medical conditions was 25.7% in the study. The most common medical conditions included diabetes mellitus (7.2%), hypertension (6.5%), and anemia (4.7%). Only 21.8% reported visiting the dental hospital in the past one year. The prevalence of smoking was 16.7%, and this did not differ significantly between healthy and medically compromised patients (P=0.165). Fillings were the most common (21.6%) reason for visiting a dental hospital, followed by treatment for periodontal problems (12.9%) and oral lesions (12.6%), whereas treatment for braces (orthodontics) was the least common (5%) reason for visiting the hospital. The reasons for visiting the hospital did not differ significantly between healthy and medically compromised patients (P > 0.05). The three most common barriers to dental visits included long waiting time (18.1%), fear of dental treatment (14.4%), and difficulty in getting an appointment (11.3%). Conclusion The study showed that dental patients had a high prevalence of medical conditions. Diabetes mellitus was the most prevalent problem. Most patients visited the dental hospital to receive restorative treatment, and a long waiting time was the most common barrier to dental visits. Public health measures should be taken to improve the general health and oral care of patients.
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Zheng S, Zhao L, Ju N, Hua T, Zhang S, Liao S. Relationship between oral health-related knowledge, attitudes, practice, self-rated oral health and oral health-related quality of life among Chinese college students: a structural equation modeling approach. BMC Oral Health 2021; 21:99. [PMID: 33676475 PMCID: PMC7936478 DOI: 10.1186/s12903-021-01419-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background This study aimed to evaluate the associations among oral health-related knowledge, attitudes, practice (KAP), self-rated oral health and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among Chinese college students. Methods Of the 2000 participants, 1751 (87.55%) students answered an online questionnaire between October 2019 and January 2020. The questionnaire included demographic characteristics, knowledge, attitudes, and practice related to oral health, self-rated oral health, and OHRQoL. Structural equation modelling was applied to assess the associations among study variables. Results Among the total students, oral health-related knowledge and attitudes were satisfactory, while the oral health practice was not optimistic. The final model showed satisfactory fitness to the data. Oral health knowledge was associated with attitudes directly and positively. Attitudes toward oral health had a direct and positive effect on practice. Oral health knowledge had an indirect effect on practice through attitudes. Oral health practice was directly associated with self-rated oral health. Oral health knowledge, practice, and self-rated oral health all affected OHRQoL directly and positively, while attitudes had a direct negative impact on OHRQoL. Conclusions OHRQoL was influenced by oral health knowledge, attitudes, practice, and self-rated oral health. Our findings support the KAP theory. Limitations of the KAP model were also found.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suge Zheng
- School of Medical Imaging, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, 233030, Anhui, China
| | - Lili Zhao
- Department of Stomatology, First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, 233004, Anhui, China
| | - Nianting Ju
- School of Medical Imaging, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, 233030, Anhui, China
| | - Tiantian Hua
- School of Medical Imaging, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, 233030, Anhui, China
| | - Shunhua Zhang
- School of Medical Imaging, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, 233030, Anhui, China.
| | - Shengkai Liao
- Department of Stomatology, First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, 233004, Anhui, China.
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Moussa AMA, Zahran F, Abdel Moneim W, Ali S. Awareness of systemic diseases effect on oral health among Egyptian dentists: A briefing report. SPECIAL CARE IN DENTISTRY 2020; 40:531-532. [DOI: 10.1111/scd.12509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2020] [Revised: 08/01/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Fatheya Zahran
- Department of Oral Medicine and Periodontology Faculty of Dentistry Cairo University Giza Egypt
| | - Wesam Abdel Moneim
- Department of Oral Medicine and Periodontology Faculty of Dentistry Cairo University Giza Egypt
| | - Shereen Ali
- Department of Oral Medicine and Periodontology Faculty of Dentistry Cairo University Giza Egypt
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Johannsen A, Malmqvist S, Graça S, Assunção V, Albuquerque T, Luis H. The Dental Hygienists in Sweden and Portugal: A Comparative Study. J Int Soc Prev Community Dent 2019; 9:296-302. [PMID: 31198704 PMCID: PMC6559047 DOI: 10.4103/jispcd.jispcd_1_19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2019] [Accepted: 03/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Aims and Objectives: The aim of the present study was to identify the dental hygienists (DHs)’ working areas and compare these findings between Sweden and Portugal. Materials and Methods: A web-based questionnaire was sent by E-mail to all 2943 members of the Swedish DH Association and 381 members of the Portuguese DH Association. The questionnaire contained questions about; number of years of work, which patient groups they worked with, if they had got sufficient knowledge from the education and what different tasks they worked with. Independent sample t-test, relative risk, and logistic regression analysis were used as statistical methods. Results: The response rate for Sweden was 31% (n = 923) and the corresponding figure for Portugal was 53.5% (n = 204). The most common tasks for the DHs, in both countries, were to diagnose and treat patients with periodontitis and to diagnose and perform caries prevention. In Portugal, 86.5% worked with orthodontic patients compared to 32.3% in Sweden (P = 0.001). The logistic regression analysis showed that there was a 25% (P = 0.02) higher probability that Swedish DHs took more X-rays and 38% (P = 0.042) probability that they had more communications skills compared to the Portuguese DHs. Conclusion: The DH profession in Sweden and Portugal was overall quite similar. Despite a few local differences, both the academic education and scope of practice corresponded well between the countries. The few discrepancies could be explained by differences in legislations in each country.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annsofi Johannsen
- Department of Dental Medicine, Division of Oral Diseases, Karolinska Institute, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Sebastian Malmqvist
- Department of Dental Medicine, Division of Oral Diseases, Karolinska Institute, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Sandra Graça
- Department of Dental Hygiene, School of Dental Medicine, University of Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Victor Assunção
- Department of Dental Hygiene, School of Dental Medicine, University of Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Teresa Albuquerque
- Department of Dental Hygiene, School of Dental Medicine, University of Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Henrique Luis
- Department of Dental Hygiene, School of Dental Medicine, University of Lisbon, Portugal
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AlShwaimi E, Idrees M, Berri Z, El-Sakka H, Kujan O. Association between Diabetes Mellitus and Periodontal Diseases: A Survey of the Opinions of Dental Professionals. Med Princ Pract 2019; 28:141-149. [PMID: 30497082 PMCID: PMC6546030 DOI: 10.1159/000495881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2017] [Accepted: 11/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This cross-sectional survey aimed to assess the knowledge of dentists and dental assistants practicing in Saudi Arabia regarding diabetes mellitus (DM) and periodontal diseases. SUBJECTS AND METHODS We used a pretested, closed-ended, multiple-choice questionnaire covering 2 principal sections: the assessment of previous educational training and practice, and the knowledge and scientific background regarding DM and periodontal diseases. The responses were grouped using the Likert-type scale. RESULTS The questionnaire showed a high reliability value of 0.805 as determined by a Cronbach's α. Out of 365 subjects who were initially interviewed, 239 subjects participated (response rate 65.5%): general dentists (45.6%) and dental hygienists and assistants (54.4%). Of the participating dentists, 70.4% were males; in contrast, 87.7% of dental assistants were female. Eighty-five percent of the participants strongly agreed that evidence supports the association between periodontal diseases and DM. Remarkably, dental assistants (78%) agreed more than dentists (68.5%) that diabetic patients with periodontal conditions would have worse glycemic control compared to diabetic patients with no periodontal diseases. Seventy-five percent of the respondents were confident about performing oral health screening for diabetic patients. Significantly more dental assistants showed their desire to expand their practice to include oral health screening (85%) and education compared to dentists (74%). CONCLUSIONS Both dentists and dental assistants in Saudi Arabia revealed a satisfactory knowledge level regarding the periodontal disease-diabetes interactions with no significant difference between the two groups. Further studies are recommended to assess the attitude of dental care providers while dealing with diabetic patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emad AlShwaimi
- Restorative Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University (University of Dammam), Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Zeina Berri
- Department of Oral Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Al-Farabi College for Dentistry and Nursing, Al-Farabi Colleges, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Haytham El-Sakka
- UWA Dental School, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Washington, Australia
| | - Omar Kujan
- UWA Dental School, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Washington, Australia,
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