AIM: The present study was designed to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices about epilepsy among a group of dentists in Hyderabad city, India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All dentists registered with the local Dental Association branch were eligible to participate in this questionnaire study. Descriptive and Inferential Statistics were used. Multiple group analysis was done using Kruskal-Wallis, and Mann Whitney U Test was used for two-group comparison. The variables were taken as significant at a p value of 0.05. RESULTS: A total of 217 respondents with mean age of 33.16±10.4 years participated in the study. Most respondents possessed a post-graduate (Master of Dental Surgery - MDS) degree (59.4%). A convulsion or shaking was identified as the most familiar recognizable symptom of epilepsy. 84.3% of the dentists would not object to their children having association with patients with epilepsy, and 61.3% would not object to their relative marrying a person with a history of epilepsy. A large number of dentists (178; 82%) were confident to treat a person with epilepsy. 95.3% assumed that they have an ethical responsibility to treat this population. None of the practice-related questions showed any significant difference with respect to different age groups, gender or the education levels (BDS/MDS). CONCLUSION: Our study reflects that this group of Indian dentists has a fairly high knowledge and positive attitudes toward patients with epilepsy. This encouraging approach and confidence among dentists may positively influence patients with epilepsy to seek dental care.
AIM: The present study was designed to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices about epilepsy among a group of dentists in Hyderabad city, India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All dentists registered with the local Dental Association branch were eligible to participate in this questionnaire study. Descriptive and Inferential Statistics were used. Multiple group analysis was done using Kruskal-Wallis, and Mann Whitney U Test was used for two-group comparison. The variables were taken as significant at a p value of 0.05. RESULTS: A total of 217 respondents with mean age of 33.16±10.4 years participated in the study. Most respondents possessed a post-graduate (Master of Dental Surgery - MDS) degree (59.4%). A convulsion or shaking was identified as the most familiar recognizable symptom of epilepsy. 84.3% of the dentists would not object to their children having association with patients with epilepsy, and 61.3% would not object to their relative marrying a person with a history of epilepsy. A large number of dentists (178; 82%) were confident to treat a person with epilepsy. 95.3% assumed that they have an ethical responsibility to treat this population. None of the practice-related questions showed any significant difference with respect to different age groups, gender or the education levels (BDS/MDS). CONCLUSION: Our study reflects that this group of Indian dentists has a fairly high knowledge and positive attitudes toward patients with epilepsy. This encouraging approach and confidence among dentists may positively influence patients with epilepsy to seek dental care.