Family physicians’ knowledge and awareness regarding oral health: A survey
نویسندگان
1 Departments of Public Health Dentistry and Endodontics and Conservative Dentistry, BRS Dental College and Hospital, Panchkula, Haryana, Departments
2 Periodontics, Rayat and Bahra Dental College and Hospital, Mohali, Punjab
3 Periodontics, Rayat and Bahra Dental College and Hospital, Mohali, Punjab
4 Departments of Public Health Dentistry of Oral Medicine and Radiology and
5 Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Dr. Harvansh Singh Judge Institute of Dental Sciences and Hospital, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India
6
doi
چکیده
INTRODUCTION: Oral health is an important component of general health. The World HealthOrganization has highly recommended the integration of oral health promotion into general healthcare. In majority of the cases, patients visit their physicians with simultaneous oral and systemiccomplaints, and primary oral complaints are more frequently encountered. Therefore, primary carephysicians can play an expanded role within oral health care to raise the overall health of the patients.AIM: This study aimed to assess the knowledge and awareness of family physicians regarding oralhealth.MATERIALS AND METHODS: An observational (cross‑sectional) study was conducted among250 family physicians who are practicing in Tricity. A self‑structured questionnaire (close‑ended)prepared by a panel of oral health experts in English language (close‑ended) was administered tothe study participants. The questionnaire which was divided into two parts, A and B, contained 15questions on knowledge and awareness regarding oral health. Categorization of knowledge scoreswas done at three levels: low, medium, and high. Statistical analysis was performed using analysisof variance and Student’s t‑test.RESULTS: Males comprised 72.8% (182) of the study population and 55.2% (138) of the participantswere doing combined practice (academic and private both). Low knowledge scores were reportedin 47.2% (118) of the participants whereas only 22.4% (56) of participants had a high score.The mean knowledge score according to educational level and working profile was statisticallysignificant (P < 0.05).CONCLUSION: The results of our study showed a considerable lack of knowledge among familyphysicians regarding connection of oral health with general health. Therefore, there is an urgentneed to increase their knowledge by various continued medical education and training programs.
