Sigalit Blumer, DMD, Senior Lecturer, Head, the Department of Pediatric Dentistry, the Maurice and Gabriela Goldschleger School of Dental Medicine, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Hila Eliasi, DMD, Private Practice.
J Clin Pediatr Dent. 2022 May 1;46(3):225-232. doi: 10.17796/1053-4625-46.3.9.
To assess decision making process and knowledge level of dentists treating children with type 1 diabetes.
Cross-sectional survey among dentistry residents and dental specialists working in clinics that provide dental care to children with type 1 diabetes.
A total of 166 respondents were included. 42% of respondents perceived that they have sufficient knowledge to treat children with diabetes, in correlation with an average score of 1.9 out of 4 on knowledge questions. Over 80% of dentists decided to treat patients by consulting with the treating physician or by checking HbA1c and glucose blood levels independently. Greater knowledge was associated with a significantly higher tendency of the dentists to determine if the child's diabetes is controlled, and to refer less often to the hospital. Furthermore, greater knowledge was also associated with dentists' greater perception that they have enough knowledge, skills and confidence to treat children with diabetes.
The study revealed significant gaps in the knowledge on diabetes among dentists who provide dental care to children. Dentists, pediatricians, endocrinologists, and other healthcare professionals who provide care for children should be encouraged to collaborate to create a mutual knowledgeable work environment for delivering best care to their patients.
评估治疗 1 型糖尿病儿童的牙医的决策过程和知识水平。
对在为 1 型糖尿病儿童提供牙科护理的诊所工作的牙科住院医师和牙科专家进行横断面调查。
共纳入 166 名受访者。42%的受访者认为他们有足够的知识来治疗糖尿病患儿，这与知识问题平均得分为 4 分中的 1.9 分相关。超过 80%的牙医通过咨询主治医生或独立检查糖化血红蛋白和血糖水平来决定治疗患者。知识水平越高，牙医越倾向于确定儿童的糖尿病是否得到控制，并减少到医院就诊的频率。此外，更高的知识水平也与牙医对自己有足够的知识、技能和信心来治疗糖尿病儿童的看法更为一致。
本研究揭示了为儿童提供牙科护理的牙医在糖尿病知识方面存在显著差距。应鼓励牙医、儿科医生、内分泌学家和其他为儿童提供护理的医疗保健专业人员合作，为提供最佳护理创造一个相互了解的工作环境。
