Assessment of Elementary School Teachers’ Knowledge of and Attitude toward the Management of Traumatic Dental Injuries in Makkah

Abstract

Background: Traumatic dental injuries (TDI) to primary and permanent teeth are not uncommon in children. Almost half of TDI in children occur at schools and the prognosis is time dependent. Hence, the teacher’s knowledge towards management of TDI is important. The aim of this study is to assess the knowledge and attitude of female elementary school teachers in Makkah, regarding the management of TDI. Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional questionnaire-based study, designed using Google forms to collect information from 350 female elementary school teachers from randomly selected schools in Makkah. The questionnaire collected data on participants’ demographic characteristics, knowledge, and attitude towards management of TDI. Results: 265 teachers participated in this study. 66.8% of the participants had positive attitude towards moral responsibility regarding the management of TDI. 63.4% of the participants lacked the proper knowledge regarding the management of TDI and 74.6% did not know the best storage media for an avulsed tooth. 60.7% of the participants were not satisfied with their knowledge, yet 94% had a positive attitude towards improving their knowledge. Conclusions: Female elementary school teachers in Makkah, showed insufficient knowledge but a positive attitude and willingness towards improving their level of knowledge regarding management of TDI. Hence, strategies to improve teachers’ knowledge about TDI must be planned and implemented.