Résumé
Objetivo: Validar el contenido de un cuestionario de auto-reporte en español para explorar actitudes, prácticas y barreras de odontólogos no especialistas en periodoncia frente al diagnóstico y tratamiento de problemas periodontales y criterios para derivar. Materiales y métodos: Seis especialistas en periodoncia de cinco países latinoamericanos construyeron versión#1 de un cuestionario. 21 expertos de tres áreas disciplinares de 6 países valoraron de 1 a 5 (1: totalmente en desacuerdo, 5: totalmente de acuerdo) cada ítem en su pertinencia, relevancia, claridad y coherencia. Según grado de acuerdo se reformuló cada ítem y se construyó versión#2 que fue piloteada en 60 odontólogos no especialistas en periodoncia, 3 de ellos fueron entrevistados para evaluar la comprensión y semántica. Luego del análisis se elaboró la versión final (versión#3). Resultados: Los ítems formulados de versión#1 tuvieron una valoración promedio de 4,6 (rango 3.7-5). Fueron reformulados evitando palabras confusas y que tuvieran aceptación transversal en países participantes, se eliminó ítem con menor puntuación de acuerdo de expertos. La aplicación de versión#2 tuvo un tiempo de respuesta de 12 minutos, se reformularon opciones y agregaron 4 ítems para obtener la versión final con 44 preguntas. Conclusiones: Se construyó un cuestionario de auto-reporte con validez de contenido para evaluar actitudes y prácticas en salud-enfermedad periodontal en odontólogos generales o no especialistas en periodoncia de habla hispana.
Aim: T o validate the content of a self-report questionnaire in Spanish to explore attitudes, practices and barriers of dentists non-specialized in periodontics when facing the diagnosis and treatment of periodontal problems and criteria for referral. Materials and methods: Six specialists in periodontics from five Latin American countries constructed version#1 of a questionnaire. Twenty-one experts from 3 disciplinary areas from 6 countries rated each item from 1 to 5 (1: totally disagree, 5: totally agree) regarding its appropriateness, relevance, clarity, and coherence. According to the degree of agreement, the item was reformulated, and version #2 was built, which was tested on 60 dentists non-specialized in periodontics. Then, 3 of them were interviewed to assess comprehension and semantics. After analysis, the final version was prepared (version#3). Results: The items formulated in version#1 had an average score of 4.6 (range 3.7-5). Questions and options were reformulated, avoiding confusing words and having transversal acceptance in the participating countries. The items with the lowest degree of expert agreement were eliminated. The application of version#2 had a response time of 12 minutes, options were reformulated, and 4 items were added to obtain the final version with 44 questions. Conclusions: A self-report questionnaire with content validity was constructed to assess attitudes and practices in periodontal health and disease in Spanish-speaking general dentists or non-specialists in periodontics.
Résumé
@#BACKGROUND: Dentists as health care providers should maintain a competence in resuscitation. This cannot be overemphasized by the fact that the population in our country is living longer with an increasing proportion of medically compromised persons in the general population. This preliminary study aimed to assess the knowledge and attitude of general dentists towards cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 250 licensed general dental practitioners working in ministry of health. Data were obtained through electronic self-administered questionnaire consisting of demographic data of general dentists, and their experience, attitude and knowledge about CPR based on the 2010 American Heart Association guidelines update for CPR. RESULTS: Totally 208 general dentists took part in the present study giving a response rate of 83.2%. Only 36% of the participants demonstrated high knowledge on CPR, while 64% demonstrated low knowledge. Participants' age, gender, nationality, years of experience, career hierarchy, and formal CPR training were associated significantly with CPR knowledge. Almost all the participants (99%) felt that dentists needed to be competent in basic resuscitation skills and showed a positive attitude towards attending continuing dental educational programs on CPR. CONCLUSION: This study showed that majority of general dental practitioners in Kuwait had inadequate knowledge on CPR. It was also found that CPR training significantly influenced the CPR knowledge of the participants. Therefore, training courses on CPR should be regularly provided to general dentists in the country.
Résumé
Background: An increase in the number of medically compromised patients in dental clinics may cause serious problems for practicing dentists all over the world. When a dentist does not understand well the relationship between oral and systemic diseases, dental care may become a quite complicated issue. The present study was conducted to analyse the level of general dentists’ knowledge about systemic disease management in Shiraz, Iran. Materials and Methods: As a cross-sectional descriptive survey of private dental practitioners, the current study was conducted in Shiraz, Iran, from September through November 2010. In order to evaluate general dentists' knowledge, experience and perceptions of medical emergencies in dental offices, a cross-sectional questionnaire approach was applied. Results: Out of 120 general dentists, only 57 filled out the questionnaire. Among these, 15 dentists (25.86%) had good knowledge, 21 (36.20%) had moderate knowledge and 22 (37.93%) had a poor level of knowledge. The knowledge score differences of males and females were not statistically significant (p=0.439). No significant relationship was observed between the dentists' knowledge and their school of graduation (p=0.256). When treating patients with systemic diseases, 43% of the dentists mentioned that they consulted with their medical colleagues. A total of 68 last-year students also filled out the questionnaire. Among them, 65 students (95.58%) had good knowledge about systemic disease management and only three (4.42%) were at the moderate level. The knowledge scores of the students were significantly higher than that of practitioner dentists (p=0.005). Conclusion: The knowledge of some Iranian dentists regarding the management of medically compromised patients is not at an acceptable level, and continuing post-graduate education courses beyond dental school seems necessary. It is also recommended to think about broadening the scenario for practice during undergraduate courses.
Résumé
Aim: to evaluate the willingness of general dental practitioners to provide dental care to children of various age group, the ole dental education plays in shaping future dentists’ attitudes and behaviours concerning treatment and various treatment procedures carried out for child patients in private dental setup. Methods: A 24-item questionnaire survey was developed to determine the variables associated with the attitude of dentists towards treating children. Questions in the survey focused on the dentists’ willingness to treat child patients in general, whether they have specialist in clinic and practice regular follows up of 6 months for children, the barriers they face in treating children, their educational experiences, types of treatments rendered etc., Results and Conclusion: Majority of private practitioners participated in this study treat children and have a positive attitude towards them, even though time consumption and financial constraints was a major barrier. Recommendations could be made to modify undergraduate curricula to encourage dentists to provide treatment to child patients without any reluctance. Efforts should be made to promote the general dentists' willingness to treat children by overcoming the barriers or by referring the children to paediatric dentists as and when necessary.