Faculty of Dentistry, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
Gerodontology. 2012 Jun;29(2):e624-31. doi: 10.1111/j.1741-2358.2011.00534.x. Epub 2011 Aug 24.
This study was aimed to identify the knowledge and attitudes of dentists regarding ageing and the elderly.
As the population ages, there is a greater demand for differentiated care from health professionals. However, the treatment needs of the elderly population are not sufficiently addressed, particularly in developing countries.
An official list of all dentists registered in the city of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, was obtained from the Regional Dentistry Council. A questionnaire was delivered to 276 randomly selected dentists; the survey contained questions designed to characterise the sample and identify dentists' conduct towards elderly patients. A Likert scale was used to identify knowledge regarding care for the elderly and attitudes towards ageing.
Women demonstrated more positive attitudes towards the elderly. Graduates who worked in the public sector demonstrated a greater knowledge of geriatric dentistry (p < 0.05). Attending specific continuing education courses had no influence over the dentists' willingness to treat the elderly population. Significant associations were not found between attitudes and knowledge regarding the elderly.
Dentists who worked in the public sector demonstrated a greater knowledge regarding the elderly. This knowledge did not influence attitudes towards ageing. Women demonstrated a more positive attitude regarding ageing and dental care.
本研究旨在确定牙医对老龄化和老年人的知识和态度。
随着人口老龄化，人们对专业医护人员提供差异化护理的需求也在增加。然而，老年人的治疗需求并未得到充分满足，尤其是在发展中国家。
从巴西贝洛奥里藏特市的地区牙医委员会获得了该市所有注册牙医的官方名单。向 276 名随机选择的牙医发放了一份调查问卷；该调查包含了旨在描述样本和确定牙医对老年患者行为的问题。采用李克特量表来确定对老年护理的知识和对老龄化的态度。
女性对老年人的态度更为积极。在公共部门工作的毕业生对老年牙科的了解更为深入（p < 0.05）。参加特定的继续教育课程对牙医治疗老年人群的意愿没有影响。在对老年人的态度和知识之间没有发现显著的相关性。
在公共部门工作的牙医对老年人的了解更为深入。这种知识并没有影响他们对老龄化的态度。女性对老龄化和口腔护理的态度更为积极。
