Alsheekhly Bassam, Namdari Mahshid, Abbas Maha Jamal, Ghasemi Hadi
Department of Community Oral Health, School of Dentistry, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IRN.
Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IRN.
Cureus. 2024 Jul 22;16(7):e65120. doi: 10.7759/cureus.65120. eCollection 2024 Jul.
Acquiring knowledge and maintaining a positive mindset are essential for dental care providers to offer optimal dental services. Dental professionals are expected to follow preventive dentistry principles to ensure the best oral health maintenance for their patients, as prevention is a key component of public health initiatives. This study aims to assess the knowledge and attitudes toward preventive dental care among Iraqi dentists and senior dental students.
A cross-sectional study, conducted from June to August 2023, involved 876 Iraqi dentists and 587 senior dental students in Baghdad, utilizing a physically paper-based self-administered questionnaire. Participants' level of knowledge was assessed based on a 5-point Likert scale to 12 statements on preventive dental care. Their attitudes were inquired by selecting one option from a 7-point Likert scale on four pairs of bipolar adjectives describing preventive dentistry. Higher scores were considered more accurate knowledge and more positive attitudes. Statistical evaluation included the Chi-square test and regression analysis.
In total, data from 841 dentists and 567 students were analyzed (response rate: 96%). Around 90% of dentists (N=745) and students (N=502) acknowledged the impact of sugar, sealant, and water fluoridation on dental caries, but about 80% of dentists (N=662) and students (N=446) undervalued the role of fluoridated toothpaste. Women (OR=1.4, 95% CI: 1.02-2.1) and dentists, within one year of their graduation (OR=1.9, 95% CI: 1.1-3.5), exhibited higher levels of knowledge. More favorable attitudes towards preventive dentistry were associated with a higher level of knowledge among dentists (OR=1.6, 95% CI: 1.2-2.3). Regarding dental students, those from private dental schools showed higher scores of knowledge than their counterparts from public schools (OR=2.1, 95% CI: 1.3-3.4). The majority of participants held the belief that preventive dentistry is beneficial for the community but just about 60% of dentists (N=477) and students (N=300) exhibited a positive attitude toward the economic advantages of preventive dentistry for dentists, as well as the ease of engaging in preventive dental practices.
The dentists and dental students in this study demonstrated satisfactory knowledge and a favorable attitude toward most aspects of preventive dentistry. However, deficiencies were noted in certain areas, such as the application of topical fluoride for preventing dental caries, as well as a substantial proportion of individuals who lacked a positive perspective on the economic benefits of preventive dentistry. Hence, there is a clear need for educational interventions during their undergraduate training and postgraduate continuing education to enhance their knowledge levels and cultivate a more positive attitude towards preventive dentistry.
获取知识并保持积极心态对于牙科护理提供者提供最佳牙科服务至关重要。牙科专业人员应遵循预防牙科原则，以确保为患者提供最佳的口腔健康维护，因为预防是公共卫生举措的关键组成部分。本研究旨在评估伊拉克牙医和高年级牙科学生对预防性牙科护理的知识和态度。
2023年6月至8月进行了一项横断面研究，涉及巴格达的876名伊拉克牙医和587名高年级牙科学生，采用纸质自填式问卷。根据对12条关于预防性牙科护理的陈述的5级李克特量表评估参与者的知识水平。通过从描述预防性牙科的四对双极形容词的7级李克特量表中选择一个选项来询问他们的态度。得分越高被认为知识越准确、态度越积极。统计评估包括卡方检验和回归分析。
总共分析了841名牙医和567名学生的数据（回复率：96%）。约90%的牙医（N = 745）和学生（N = 502）认识到糖、窝沟封闭剂和水氟化对龋齿的影响，但约80%的牙医（N = 662）和学生（N = 446）低估了含氟牙膏的作用。女性（OR = 1.4，95% CI：1.02 - 2.1）和毕业一年内的牙医（OR = 1.9，95% CI：1.1 - 3.5）知识水平较高。牙医对预防性牙科的更积极态度与更高的知识水平相关（OR = 1.6，95% CI：1.2 - 2.3）。对于牙科学生，私立牙科学校的学生知识得分高于公立学校的学生（OR = 2.1，95% CI：1.3 - 3.4）。大多数参与者认为预防性牙科对社区有益，但只有约60%的牙医（N = 477）和学生（N = 300）对预防性牙科对牙医的经济优势以及开展预防性牙科实践的便利性表现出积极态度。
本研究中的牙医和牙科学生在预防性牙科的大多数方面表现出令人满意的知识和良好态度。然而，在某些领域存在不足，例如局部用氟预防龋齿的应用，以及相当一部分人对预防性牙科的经济益处缺乏积极看法。因此，在他们的本科培训和研究生继续教育期间显然需要进行教育干预，以提高他们的知识水平并培养对预防性牙科更积极的态度。
