A survey of the knowledge of junior doctors in managing oral conditions in adult inpatients.

Abstract

Background Adult inpatients are at risk of developing oral health-related problems during their admission that may require input from their medical team. Doctors have minimal training in oral health which may lead to inappropriate diagnosis and management of oral conditions.Aim The aim of this survey was to investigate the knowledge of junior doctors in managing oral health conditions in hospitalised patients.Method A survey was carried out with 146 junior doctors in Kent, Surrey and Sussex who attended oral health training sessions, which included scenario-based questions on diagnosis and management.Results Ninety-two percent of doctors did not feel confident in diagnosing common oral conditions and 50% did not routinely assess the mouth as part of their overall health assessment. Of those surveyed, 97% expressed that they would like further training in oral health.Conclusion There is a need to incorporate oral health training into the teaching programme for junior doctors to improve their confidence in the diagnosis and management of oral conditions. This would help improve the management of patients who develop oral problems during their hospital stay.