Abstract
BackgroundPediatricians are in an ideal position to advise families about the prevention and management of oral diseases in children. The objective of the study was to determine knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding the prevention of oral diseases among pediatricians in Italy.MethodsA systematic random sample of 1000 pediatricians received a questionnaire on socio-demographic and practice characteristics; knowledge on risk factors; attitude and practices towards the prevention of oral diseases.ResultsA total of 507 pediatricians participated. More than half knew the main risk factors for oral diseases and this knowledge was higher in primary care pediatricians (p = 0.007), in those with a higher number of hours worked per week (p = 0.012), and who believed that oral diseases may be prevented (p = 0.017). Pediatricians with higher knowledge about the main risk factors (p = 0.006) believe that they have an important role in preventing oral diseases and that they can perform an oral examination. Almost all (89%) prescribed fluoride supplements and those younger (p = 0.016), with a higher number of patients seen in workday (p = 0.001), with longer practice activity (p = 0.004), those who believe that fluoride is effective in preventing caries (p < 0.0001), and who learned about prevention from scientific sources (p = 0.002) were more likely to prescribe fluoride. One-fourth and 40.6% provides and recommends a dental visit once a year and primary care pediatricians (p = 0.014) and those who believed that routine visit is important in preventing oral diseases (p < 0.0001) were more likely to recommend a dental visit once a year.ConclusionThe results showed a lack of knowledge among pediatricians although almost all believed that they had an important responsibility in preventing oral diseases and provided an oral examination.
Highlights
Pediatricians are in an ideal position to advise families about the prevention and management of oral diseases in children
The American Academy of Pediatrics emphasizes that paediatric health care professionals should be trained to perform an oral health risk assessment on all children beginning at 6 months of age [1,2]
The purpose of this survey was to characterize what is known about knowledge, attitude, and current practices regarding the prevention of oral diseases among pediatricians in Italy
Summary
Pediatricians are in an ideal position to advise families about the prevention and management of oral diseases in children. BMC Public Health 2006, 6:176 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/6/176 very young children to promote positive outcomes during childhood and subsequent adulthood. Because of their frequent contact with families for routine preventive visits in the child's first few years of life, pediatricians are in an ideal and unique position to advice families about the prevention of oral diseases in their children. There is little published literature that focuses on the extent to which pediatricians participate, as to their knowledge, attitudes, and practices with regard to oral health preventive programs Such studies seem important because the attitude and the knowledge of pediatricians may enhance or impede the implementation and eventual success of a preventive program. The purpose of this survey was to characterize what is known about knowledge, attitude, and current practices regarding the prevention of oral diseases among pediatricians in Italy
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