Blood pressure monitoring amongst Fijian general dental practitioners

This study was designed to gauge the attitude and practice towards monitoring of blood pressure among dentists in Fiji and to assess whether they were willing to participate in a national health campaign to screen blood pressure of dental patient without remuneration. Sixty-two questionnaires were mailed out to all General Dental Practitioners in the Republic of the Fiji Islands. Responses were obtained from 49 (79 %) dentists following a second reminder letter. The majority of the practitioners (85 %) had been taught to measure blood pressure as undergraduates and approximately two-third of them stated that blood pressure screening in dental office was very important. Only about one-third of the respondents reported measuring blood pressure routinely, however this figure rose dramatically to 92 % when assessing patients with known high blood pressure. Approximately two-thirds of the practitioners were willing to participate in a national health campaign to screen blood pressure of dental patients without remuneration. Most of the dental practitioners in Fiji acknowledged that blood pressure monitoring in dental office was very important. They also stated that additional training in blood pressure monitoring was of necessary. Therefore, it is essential for stakeholders such as the Fiji Dental Association and the Ministry of Health to assist in providing guidelines and training in blood pressure monitoring for dental professionals in Fiji as well as to assist in conducting national health campaigns to screen for blood pressure.