ABSTRACT
Introduction: Health care professionals interact with patients on a daily basis. Assessing and
improving the existing knowledge of periodontal awareness among health care professionals
is needed. They could be a good resource to educate patients on oral health
Aims:
To assess the existing knowledge about periodontal disease among various health care
professionals.
To identify deficit in the knowledge among these health care professionals.
Materials and Methods: This was a written questionnaire based pilot study. A total of 224
subjects (123 male & 101female subjects) were selected for the study from the Yenepoya
University, Mangalore, Karnataka, India. Random sampling method was employed for case
selection. The main topics included in the written questionnaire were knowledge of the
definition of periodontitis, knowledge of risks associated with periodontitis, knowledge of risk
factors for periodontitis and knowledge of preventive measures and treatment of periodontitis.
Results: Bonferroni Multiple Comparisons test showed that there was a statistically significant
difference between mean scores and mean percentage scores when compared between
dentist and other professional groups. There was no statistically significant difference
between the mean scores and mean percentage scores between Medical, Physiotherapy
and Nursing professionals.
Conclusion: Severe knowledge deficit was seen in risks associated with periodontitis and
risk factors for periodontitis. There is a need to improve knowledge about periodontal disease
in the health professionals in the Yenepoya University.
Introduction
Periodontal diseases are the most widespread diseases. A high
prevalence of periodontitis is noted among adult regardless
of sex, race, education, residence or socioeconomic status.[1]
Periodontology is evolving at a rapid pace in past few decades.
Periodontitis is thought to influence systemic health including
Cardiovascular disease, Diabetes mellitus, preterm low birth
weight and respiratory disease.[2] Health care professionals
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DOI:
10.4103/0974-7761.136045
60
Results
SPSS 15.0 is used for all statistical analyses. One way ANOVA
was used to find whether the mean scores differed significantly
between the four health professionals. P < .05 is considered
N
50
74
50
49
224
Mean
5.92
7.81
6.20
5.41
STD DEV
1.510
0.459
1.370
2.235
Minimum
2
6
2
1
Maximum
8
8
8
8
F
32.912
P
0.001
F
15.64
P
0.001
N
5.92
7.81
6.20
5.41
Mean
1.510
0.459
1.370
2.235
STD DEV
2
6
2
1
Minimum
0
2
2
1
Maximum
8
8
7
7
61
Discussion
Interdisciplinary approach has become the patient
management strategy in recent decades. This approach
requires close cooperation between doctors and dentists. A
team of well informed healthcare professionals and dentists
can benefit the society. Healthcare professionals can act as
good source of knowledge providers to the general public.
Improving periodontal knowledge can play an important role
in the prevention of periodontal diseases.[7] Rapid growth in
information technology have placed a significant burden on
the public to acquire relevant information. Poor literacy skills
Table 3: Knowledge of risk factors associated with periodontitis by the health professionals
Mean scores
3rd quarter
Medical
Dental
Nursing
Physiotherapy
N
50
74
50
50
Mean
5.04
7.36
5.04
4.60
STD DEV
1.795
0 .804
1.795
1.525
Minimum
0
5
1
1
Maximum
8
8
8
8
F
47.52
P
0.001
Maximum
8
8
8
8
F
17.576
P
0.001
F
32.912
P
.001
15.644
.001
47.529
.001
17.576
.001
N
50
74
50
50
Mean
5.88
7.62
6.56
5.50
STD DEV
2.309
0.789
1.312
2.418
Minimum
0
5
2
0
Table 5: One way ANOVA to find the mean scores difference among health professionals
1st quarter
2nd quarter
3rd quarter
4th quarter
62
Medical
Dental
Nursing
Physiotherapy
Total
Medical
Dental
Nursing
Physiotherapy
Total
Medical
Dental
Nursing
Physiotherapy
Total
Medical
Dental
Nursing
Physiotherapy
Total
N
50
74
50
49
223
50
74
50
50
224
50
74
50
50
224
50
74
50
50
224
Mean
5.92
7.81
6.20
5.41
Std. Deviation
1.510
.459
1.370
2.235
Minimum
2
6
2
1
Maximum
8
8
8
8
5.08
5.30
4.90
3.68
1.496
1.107
1.093
1.708
0
2
2
1
8
8
7
7
5.04
7.36
5.04
4.60
1.795
.804
1.795
1.525
0
5
1
1
8
8
8
8
5.88
7.62
6.56
5.50
2.309
.789
1.312
2.418
0
5
2
0
8
8
8
8
Dental
2nd quarter
Nursing
Medical
Dental
3rd quarter
Nursing
Medical
Dental
4th quarter
Nursing
Medical
Dental
Nursing
(J) group
Dental
Nursing
Physiotherapy
Nursing
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy
Dental
Nursing
Physiotherapy
Nursing
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy
Dental
Nursing
Physiotherapy
Nursing
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy
Dental
Nursing
Physiotherapy
Nursing
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy
Mean
Difference (I-J)
1.891(*)
.280
.512
1.611(*)
2.403(*)
.792(*)
.217
.180
1.400(*)
.397
1.617(*)
1.220(*)
2.325(*)
.000
.440
2.325(*)
2.765(*)
.440
1.742(*)
.680
.380
1.062(*)
2.122(*)
1.060(*)
P
.0005
1.000
.480
.0005
.0005
.042
1.000
1.000
.0005
.655
.0005
.0005
.0005
1.000
.819
.0005
.0005
.819
.0005
.324
1.000
.007
.0005
.017
100
87.83
8
80
70.50
68.37
Medical
Dental
Nursing
Physiotherapy
3
2
Mean Percentage
Mean scores
59.20
60
40
20
1
0
Medical
Dental
Nursing
Physiotherapy
group
63
Conclusion
This study shows that knowledge deficit was seen in all topics
investigated in the given population. Severe knowledge deficit
was seen in risks associated with periodontitis and risk factors
for periodontitis. This study points out the need to transcend
the personal barriers and improve communication and
education among all the health professionals. This approach
will benefit the profession and the whole society .This
study should be continued further with a larger sample size.
Reassessment of the knowledge level should be done after
educating respective groups.
Acknowledgements
We would like to acknowledge Dr. A. Shashikanth Hegde, Senior
Professor & Head, Dr. Rajesh KS, Professor and Dr.Arunkumar MS
for their constant guidance and support during the study.
References
1.
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Questionnaire
1. Gum disease means
a. Decay of the tooth with pain
b. Disease of supporting structures of the tooth
c. Gums growing into decayed tooth
d. Disease of mucosa after removal of tooth.
2. Periodontitis means
a. Inflammation of gums
b. Inflammation of gums involving alveolar bone
c. Overgrowth of gums into a decayed tooth
d. Decayed teeth
3. Gum disease (periodontitis) may show all the signs except
a. Pocket formation
b. Loss of alveolar bone
c. Loss of tooth function
d. Tooth decay
4. Gum disease is caused by
a. Using of tooth picks
b. Bacteria & virus
c. Liver infection
d. Kidney infection
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5. Dental plaque is
a. Soft deposit consisting of colonies of microorganism
b. Hard deposit
c. Food debris around the gums
d. Decay close to the gum
6. Dental calculus is
a. Soft deposit around the tooth
b. Hard deposit
c. Food debris around the gums
d. Decay close to the gum
7. Gum disease is not associated with
a. Bleeding gums
b. Mobile tooth
c. Receding gums
d. Bleeding nose
8. Bad breath is caused by
a. Controlled diabetes mellitus
b. Controlled hypertension
c. Chewing of fibrous foods
d. Gum disease
65