Knowledge, attitude and practice regarding tooth loss among adult patients in Quetta, Balochistan

ABSTRACT

To assess the relationship between KAP of patients about dental treatment and tooth extraction status in tooth extraction and non-extraction case. Cross sectional study. Study was carried out at out patient department Sandeman teaching Hospital Quetta from January to February 1999. The source of the population were the patients aged 25-65 years attending out patient department at Sandeman teaching Hospital Quetta, The non-probability sampling was used, a total 205subjects were included in the study. Descriptive statistics, Chi-Square test and mean t-test was used. The behavior of the patients was determined by a questionnaire. There was 205 patients, among them 134 were tooth extracted cases and 71 were non-tooth extracted. Age was 25-65, and mean age was 37.38 +/- 11.09. Male were 63.9 percent and 36.1 percent were female. The K score is higher in non-extraction cases [mean 2.90+1.87] as compare to extraction case [mean 1.81+1.5], [p =.001].The mean of A score is higher in non-extraction cases [mean 21.69 +/- 6.1] compare to extracted cases [0.89 +/- 0.82], [p=.001]. The mean of P score is higher in non-extraction cases [1.59+1.112] than extraction cases [0.89+0.82], [p=0.001]. As a whole the KAP of non-extracted cases [mean 26.1 +/- 8.22] is better than extracted cases [mean 19.44+6.64], [p=.001]. The proportion of extracted group has low KAP score, [p = .001]. The findings suggested that the extracted cases were less educated, having low KAP and less number of teeth present in the oral cavity. In this regard preventive programs are to be initiated to change the patient perception towards dental treatment