Periodontology Unit, Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions, Dental Institute, King´s College London, London, SE1 9RT, UK.
Senior Clinical Lecturer, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, Turner Street, Whitechapel, London, E1 2AD, UK.
Br Dent J. 2022 Jun;232(11):798-803. doi: 10.1038/s41415-022-4294-7. Epub 2022 Jun 10.
Aim To explore the attitudes of general dental practitioners (GDPs) towards testing for diabetes in periodontitis patients amid recommendations from professional organisations that dentists and oral health professionals are well-positioned to support the diagnosis of diabetes in primary dental care.Method GDPs were selected based on purposeful sampling. The number of GDPs recruited was dependent on thematic saturation. Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with all recruited GDPs. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was utilised to generate initial codes and subsequent themes.Results Fifteen GDPs participated in this qualitative study. Three main interrelated themes emerged: 1) there is an inadequate infrastructure within the current NHS; 2) the difference in the definition and threshold of the social and professional roles and identities of GDPs; and 3) there is a low self-efficacy to testing due to a perceived lack of knowledge.Conclusions This qualitative study has identified the barriers to and enablers for testing for diabetes in patients with periodontitis attending general dental practices in England. The findings have the potential to influence interventions and policies going forward to improve the co-management of diabetes and periodontitis within primary healthcare.
目的 探讨普通牙科医生（GDP）在专业组织建议他们和口腔健康专业人员有能力在初级牙科护理中支持糖尿病诊断的情况下，对牙周炎患者进行糖尿病检测的态度。
方法 根据目的性抽样选择 GDP。招募的 GDP 人数取决于主题饱和度。对所有招募的 GDP 进行半结构化电话访谈。访谈进行录音并逐字转录。采用主题分析生成初始代码和后续主题。
结果 本定性研究有 15 名 GDP 参与。出现了三个主要的相互关联的主题：1）目前国民保健制度（NHS）内部的基础设施不足；2）GDP 的社会和专业角色和身份的定义和阈值存在差异；3）由于缺乏知识，检测的自我效能感较低。
结论 本定性研究确定了英格兰普通牙科诊所就诊的牙周炎患者中进行糖尿病检测的障碍和促成因素。这些发现有可能影响未来的干预和政策，以改善初级保健中糖尿病和牙周炎的共同管理。
