Abstract

Aims: Many oral diseases have a strong connection with systemic conditions while effective delivery of health care often requires the combined efforts of all health professionals. Due to the problems of access to dental care, patients may consult other primary health care providers for their oral health needs. This study was undertaken to assess the oral health knowledge, attitude and practices among various health professionals working in Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, (LASUTH). Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the LASUTH Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria. A stratified probability sampling method was used to categorize the different health professionals in LASUTH and about 20% of the health workers in each category were enlisted using the nominal roll as a sampling frame. A total of 148 questionnaires were administered during the study on subjects who met the inclusion criteria and gave their informed consent. Results: Females and younger respondents were more likely to visit the dentist than males for routine dental check-up even though the association was not significant. The oral health knowledge and attitude among the various health professionals surveyed in LASUTH was found to be inadequate even though Medical doctors had the overall best responses. There was a significant difference between the attitude of the Medical Doctors and other health professionals on questions about extractions (p = 0.024); dental treatments (p = 0.008); dental fillings (p = 0.000); artificial teeth (p = 0.013); bleeding gums (p = 0.002) and replacement of lost teeth (p = 0.004). Conclusion: All health professionals can promote oral health by disseminating accurate oral health messages, being appropriate role models by paying attention to their own oral health, encouraging appropriate dental visits and participating in oral health promotion within their scope of duties. It is also recommended that dental items feature more frequently in hospital ground rounds and clinical meetings of to address this deficit.

Highlights

  • Oral health may be defined as a state of health of oral and related tissues that enables an individual to eat, speak and socialize without active disease, discomfort or embarrassment and which contributes to general wellbeing

  • Many oral diseases have a strong connection with systemic conditions while effective delivery of health care often requires the combined efforts of all health professionals [3]

  • There was a moderate level of demand for preventive dental services among the respondents surveyed, while female health workers were more likely to access dental services

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Summary

Introduction

Oral health may be defined as a state of health of oral and related tissues that enables an individual to eat, speak and socialize without active disease, discomfort or embarrassment and which contributes to general wellbeing. Oral diseases may be associated with considerable pain, anxiety, and impaired social functioning. Most dental diseases are not life-threatening, they are detrimental to the quality of life and can have an impact upon the self-esteem, nutrition and health of an individual [1, 2]. Many oral diseases have a strong connection with systemic conditions while effective delivery of health care often requires the combined efforts of all health professionals [3]. Medical practitioners and other health care workers frequently encounter patients with oral and dental problems [4]

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