H Yusuf1, G Tsakos1, A Ntouva1, M Murphy1, J Porter1, T Newton2, R G Watt1. 1. Department of Epidemiology &Public Health, UCL, 1-19 Torrington Place, London, WC1E 6BT. 2. Division of Health and Social Care Research, King's College London Dental Institute, Caldecott Road, London, SE5 9RW, UK.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To assess sex and age differences in NHS dentists' knowledge, attitudes and behaviours in providing preventive care. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted with dentists working in North London, UK. RESULTS: The sample displayed limited knowledge in certain key aspects of prevention, but expressed generally positive attitudes towards preventive care. More female and younger dentists reported that a child should attend the dentist before the age of 3 years (p = 0.03 and p = 0.04, respectively). No other differences in knowledge or attitudes were found by age and sex. The majority of the sample reported routinely providing oral hygiene (95.7%), diet (85.4%) and smoking cessation advice (76.7%), but provision of alcohol advice was much less common (38%). A significantly higher proportion of younger dentists were more likely to give diet advice (p = 0.03) and smoking cessation support (p = 0.009) than their older colleagues. Female dentists were more likely to provide fissure sealants (p = 0.04), diet advice (p = 0.02) and smoking cessation support (p = 0.03). The main perceived barriers were related to organisational factors including insufficient remuneration (86.3%), lack of time (84%) and poor patient compliance (66%). There were no significant differences in perceived barriers by sex, but younger dentists were significantly more likely to identify poor patient compliance as a barrier (p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Although dentists in this study may lack some core preventive knowledge, many expressed very positive attitudes towards prevention and reported to be routinely offering a range of preventive measures. Younger and female dentists tended to engage more frequently in preventive activities.
PURPOSE: To assess sex and age differences in NHS dentists' knowledge, attitudes and behaviours in providing preventive care. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted with dentists working in North London, UK. RESULTS: The sample displayed limited knowledge in certain key aspects of prevention, but expressed generally positive attitudes towards preventive care. More female and younger dentists reported that a child should attend the dentist before the age of 3 years (p = 0.03 and p = 0.04, respectively). No other differences in knowledge or attitudes were found by age and sex. The majority of the sample reported routinely providing oral hygiene (95.7%), diet (85.4%) and smoking cessation advice (76.7%), but provision of alcohol advice was much less common (38%). A significantly higher proportion of younger dentists were more likely to give diet advice (p = 0.03) and smoking cessation support (p = 0.009) than their older colleagues. Female dentists were more likely to provide fissure sealants (p = 0.04), diet advice (p = 0.02) and smoking cessation support (p = 0.03). The main perceived barriers were related to organisational factors including insufficient remuneration (86.3%), lack of time (84%) and poor patient compliance (66%). There were no significant differences in perceived barriers by sex, but younger dentists were significantly more likely to identify poor patient compliance as a barrier (p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Although dentists in this study may lack some core preventive knowledge, many expressed very positive attitudes towards prevention and reported to be routinely offering a range of preventive measures. Younger and female dentists tended to engage more frequently in preventive activities.
Authors: E Daley; V Dodd; R DeBate; C Vamos; C Wheldon; N Kline; S Smith; R Chandler; K Dyer; H Helmy; A Driscoll Journal: Public Health Date: 2014-03-03 Impact factor: 2.427