College of Nursing, Mahalah Branch for Girls King Khalid University, Abha, Asir, Saudi Arabia.
Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, King Khalid University, Abha, Asir, Saudi Arabia.
J Healthc Eng. 2022 Mar 10;2022:9087776. doi: 10.1155/2022/9087776. eCollection 2022.
The study aim was to evaluate the empowerment of primary healthcare providers on the prevention and management of dental or oral health issues among postchemotherapy (PC) patients, in selected rural regions, India, during a pandemic.
Initially, 240 PHPs were recruited by convenient and snow ball sampling with 90.3% response rate. A descriptive, cross-sectional study was adopted using a self-administered questionnaire with 5 sections: demographics, identification of dental/oral health issues, knowledge, attitude, and practice on prevention and management of dental/oral health problems in PC patients. Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.0 was used for statistical analysis.
The overall knowledge was better among nurses (64.56%), followed by pharmacists (54.5%). 81.65% of PHPs were willing to learn more and expressed the need for collaboration with dentists. In the past 3 months, 18.81% of them had PC patients with dental/oral health issues, but only 3.5% of nurses and 0.8% of pharmacists treated them. The logistic regression model revealed higher scores in mucositis/mucosal pain (OR = 1.41), altered taste sensation (OR = 1.34), sensitive gums (OR = 1.71), and dental caries (OR = 1.32) domains ( < 0.05). Those who had readiness to learn (OR = 5.37), nurses and pharmacists, and having less years of experience (OR = 1.31) and higher degree (OR = 1.4) had a positive attitude ( < 0.05).
PHPs had limited empowerment in terms of knowledge and practice but showed a positive attitude toward the prevention and management of dental/oral health issues of PC patients. For better practice, continuing education and collaboration with dental professionals is essential.
本研究旨在评估在印度选定农村地区的大流行期间，基层医疗保健提供者在化疗后（PC）患者的口腔或牙齿健康问题预防和管理方面的赋权情况。
最初，通过便利抽样和雪球抽样招募了 240 名 PHPs，响应率为 90.3%。采用描述性横断面研究，使用包含 5 个部分的自我管理问卷：人口统计学、口腔/牙齿健康问题的识别、知识、态度和预防及管理 PC 患者口腔/牙齿健康问题的实践。使用社会科学统计软件包（SPSS）版本 23.0 进行统计分析。
护士的整体知识水平较高（64.56%），其次是药剂师（54.5%）。81.65%的 PHPs 愿意学习更多知识，并表示需要与牙医合作。在过去的 3 个月中，有 18.81%的 PHPs 有 PC 患者出现口腔/牙齿健康问题，但只有 3.5%的护士和 0.8%的药剂师对其进行了治疗。逻辑回归模型显示，在口腔黏膜炎/黏膜疼痛（OR=1.41）、味觉改变（OR=1.34）、牙龈敏感（OR=1.71）和龋齿（OR=1.32）方面得分较高（<0.05）。那些有学习意愿（OR=5.37）、护士和药剂师、经验较少（OR=1.31）和学历较高（OR=1.4）的人表现出积极的态度（<0.05）。
PHPs 在知识和实践方面的赋权有限，但对 PC 患者口腔/牙齿健康问题的预防和管理表现出积极的态度。为了更好地实践，需要继续教育培训和与牙科专业人员的合作。
