Knowledge and attitude of medical practitioners towards periodontal diseases in New Delhi: A questionnaire based study.
Keywords:
Awareness, Medical Practitioners, Periodontal Diseases, Systemic Diseases,
Abstract
Background: Periodontal diseases have been linked with many systemic conditions / diseases. Due to limited access to dental care, patients turn to primary health care providers for their oral health needs. This would result in medical practitioners encountering patients with dental problems. The physicians training program has limited curriculum about oral diseases. Also, their knowledge is not so comprehensive about the systemic condition and periodontal disease correlation. Hence, the present study was conducted to assess the awareness and knowledge about the correlation between periodontal and systemic diseases amongst medical practitioners.Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire based survey was carried out in New Delhi (India). A total of 300 registered medical practitioners were included in the study. Each participant was given a self – administered multiple-choice questionnaire. The responses were collected and analyzed.Results: A total of 168 (54%) medical practitioners had correct knowledge about the etiology of periodontal diseases. 71% had the knowledge about the two – way relationship between periodontal diseases and systemic conditions. About 215 (72%), 107(36%), 107(36%) and 116 (39%) medical practitioners were aware that periodontal disease was a risk factor for coronary heart disease, preterm labour, cerebral infarction and infective endocarditis, respectively. Out of 300 medical practitioners, 188 (62.6 %) had an overall good knowledge about different periodontal diseases and their treatment modalities.Conclusion: The level of awareness about periodontal diseases and their correlation with systemic diseases was fairly good in the medical practitioners. However, some important diseases were overlooked which requires certain updation in their knowledge.References
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10. Grossi SG, Genco RJ. Periodontal diseases and diabetes mellitus: A two-way relationship. Ann Periodontol 1998;3:51-61.
11. Beck JD. Periodontal implications: Older adults. Ann Periodontol 1996; 1: 322-7.
12. Hayes C, Sparrow D, Cohen M, Vokonas PS, Garcia RI. The association between alveolar bone loss and pulmonary function: The VA Dental Longitudinal Study. Ann Periodontol 1998;3:257-61.
13. Page RC. The pathobiology of periodontal diseases may affect the systemic diseases: Inversion of a paradigm. Ann Periodontol 1998; 3: 108-20.
14. Gur A, Majra JP. Awareness regarding the systemic effects of periodontal disease among medical interns in India. J Glob Infect Dis 2011;3(2):123-7.
15. Srinidhi S, Ingle NA, Chaly PE, Reddy C. Dental awareness and attitudes among medical practitioners in Chennai. J Oral Health Comm Dent 2011; 5(2): 73-8.
16. Mealey BL, Oates TW. Diabetes Mellitus and Periodontal Diseases. J Periodontol 2006; 77(8); 1289-303.
17. Kruger M, Hansen T, Kasaj A, Moergel M. The correlation between chronic periodontitis and oral cancer. Case Reports in Dentistry 2013, Article ID 262410 http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/262410
18. Joshi SR, Parikh RM. India - Diabetes capital of the world: Now heading towards hypertension. JAPI 2007; 55: 323-4.
19. Pralhad S, Thomas B. Periodontal awareness in different health care professionals: A questionnaire survey. J Educ Ethics Dent 2011; 1: 64-7.
2. Mealy BL. Influence of periodontal infections on systemic health. Periodontol 2000 1999;21:197-209.
3. Shaju JP, Zade RM, Das M. Prevalence of periodontitis in the Indian population: A literature review. J Indian Soc Periodontol 2011; 15(1):29-34.
4. Tandon S. Challenges to the oral health work force in India. J Dent Educ 2004;68(7):28-33.
5. Beck J, Garcia R, Heiss G, Vokonas PS, Offenbacher S. Periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease. J Periodontol 1996;67:1123-37.
6. Beck JD, Offenbacher S, Williams R, Gibbs P, Garcia R. Periodontitis: A risk factor for coronary heart disease? Ann Periodontol 1998;3:127-41.
7. Mattila KJ, Valtonen VV, Nieminen M, Huttunen JK. Dental infection and the risk of new coronary events: Prospective study of patients with documented coronary artery disease. Clin Infect Dis 1995;20:588-92.
8. Hill GB. Preterm birth: Association with genital and possible oral microflora. Ann Periodontol 1998;3:222-32.
9. Offenbacher S, Jared HL, O′Reilly PG, Wells SR, Salvi GE, Lawrence HP, et al. Potential pathogenic mechanisms of periodontitis-associated pregnancy complications. Ann Periodontol 1998;3:233-50.
10. Grossi SG, Genco RJ. Periodontal diseases and diabetes mellitus: A two-way relationship. Ann Periodontol 1998;3:51-61.
11. Beck JD. Periodontal implications: Older adults. Ann Periodontol 1996; 1: 322-7.
12. Hayes C, Sparrow D, Cohen M, Vokonas PS, Garcia RI. The association between alveolar bone loss and pulmonary function: The VA Dental Longitudinal Study. Ann Periodontol 1998;3:257-61.
13. Page RC. The pathobiology of periodontal diseases may affect the systemic diseases: Inversion of a paradigm. Ann Periodontol 1998; 3: 108-20.
14. Gur A, Majra JP. Awareness regarding the systemic effects of periodontal disease among medical interns in India. J Glob Infect Dis 2011;3(2):123-7.
15. Srinidhi S, Ingle NA, Chaly PE, Reddy C. Dental awareness and attitudes among medical practitioners in Chennai. J Oral Health Comm Dent 2011; 5(2): 73-8.
16. Mealey BL, Oates TW. Diabetes Mellitus and Periodontal Diseases. J Periodontol 2006; 77(8); 1289-303.
17. Kruger M, Hansen T, Kasaj A, Moergel M. The correlation between chronic periodontitis and oral cancer. Case Reports in Dentistry 2013, Article ID 262410 http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/262410
18. Joshi SR, Parikh RM. India - Diabetes capital of the world: Now heading towards hypertension. JAPI 2007; 55: 323-4.
19. Pralhad S, Thomas B. Periodontal awareness in different health care professionals: A questionnaire survey. J Educ Ethics Dent 2011; 1: 64-7.
Published
2015-11-18
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