Family physicians’ knowledge and awareness regarding oral health: A survey
Oral health is an important component of general health. The World Health Organization has highly recommended the integration of oral health promotion into general health care. In majority of the cases, patients visit their physicians with simultaneous oral and systemic complaints, and primary oral complaints are more frequently encountered. Therefore, primary care physicians can play an expanded role within oral health care to raise the overall health of the patients.
This study aimed to assess the knowledge and awareness of family physicians regarding oral health.
An observational (cross‑sectional) study was conducted among 250 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 to the study participants. The questionnaire which was divided into two parts, A and B, contained 15 questions on knowledge and awareness regarding oral health. Categorization of knowledge scores was done at three levels: low, medium, and high. Statistical analysis was performed using analysis of variance and Student’s t‑test.
Males comprised 72.8% (182) of the study population and 55.2% (138) of the participants were doing combined practice (academic and private both). Low knowledge scores were reported in 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 statistically significant (P < 0.05).
The results of our study showed a considerable lack of knowledge among family physicians regarding connection of oral health with general health. Therefore, there is an urgent need to increase their knowledge by various continued medical education and training programs.
پرداخت حق اشتراک به معنای پذیرش "شرایط خدمات" پایگاه مگیران از سوی شماست.
اگر عضو مگیران هستید:
اگر مقاله ای از شما در مگیران نمایه شده، برای استفاده از اعتبار اهدایی سامانه نویسندگان با ایمیل منتشرشده ثبت نام کنید. ثبت نام
- حق عضویت دریافتی صرف حمایت از نشریات عضو و نگهداری، تکمیل و توسعه مگیران میشود.
- پرداخت حق اشتراک و دانلود مقالات اجازه بازنشر آن در سایر رسانههای چاپی و دیجیتال را به کاربر نمیدهد.