Department of Paediatrics, Larnaca General Hospital, Inomenon polition, Larnaca, Cyprus.
Medical School, European University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus.
Eur J Pediatr. 2018 May;177(5):675-681. doi: 10.1007/s00431-018-3108-z. Epub 2018 Feb 5.
Oral health is an essential component of children's general health. The aim of this study is to evaluate the training, knowledge, attitudes and practices of primary care paediatricians in oral health in Europe. Paediatricians were invited to complete a survey on the web. There was a 54.3% response rate. The oral health education of the responders was received mainly through continuing medical education and practical experience (51%) rather than in medical school or during paediatric residency training (33%). Twenty-four percent of the responders did not know that the first signs of caries were white spots on the surfaces of teeth. Although 98.8% of paediatricians check the oral health status of children, only 52% feel confident enough to identify dental caries. A large proportion of the paediatricians (43%) recommended a first dental visit for children above the age of 3 years and only 7% under 1 year of age.
Paediatricians are familiar with some aspects of the oral health but are not confident in identifying the risk factors. The current postgraduate curriculum in Paediatrics should incorporate training on basic oral healthcare. In addition, continuous educational programmes are needed to keep the knowledge of the paediatrician up to date. What is Known: • Oral health is an essential component of general health that influences the functional, psychological and social dimensions of a child's well-being. • Paediatricians are the leading providers of primary healthcare for children. What is New: • Paediatricians are familiar with some aspects of the oral health of children but are not confident in identifying the risk factors responsible for oral disease. • The current postgraduate curriculum in Paediatrics should incorporate training on basic oral healthcare in children.
口腔健康是儿童整体健康的重要组成部分。本研究旨在评估欧洲初级保健儿科医生在口腔健康方面的培训、知识、态度和实践。儿科医生被邀请在网上完成一项调查。调查的回复率为 54.3%。回复者的口腔健康教育主要通过继续医学教育和实践经验（51%）获得，而不是通过医学院或儿科住院医师培训（33%）获得。24%的回复者不知道龋齿的最初迹象是牙齿表面的白点。尽管 98.8%的儿科医生会检查儿童的口腔健康状况，但只有 52%的人有足够的信心来识别龋齿。很大一部分儿科医生（43%）建议儿童在 3 岁以上首次看牙医，只有 7%的人建议在 1 岁以下看牙医。
儿科医生熟悉一些口腔健康方面的知识，但对识别危险因素没有信心。儿科学的现行研究生课程应纳入基本口腔保健培训。此外，还需要开展持续的教育计划，使儿科医生的知识保持最新。
•口腔健康是整体健康的重要组成部分，影响儿童福祉的功能、心理和社会方面。•儿科医生是儿童初级保健的主要提供者。
•儿科医生熟悉儿童口腔健康的某些方面，但对识别导致口腔疾病的危险因素没有信心。•儿科学的现行研究生课程应纳入儿童基本口腔保健培训。
