Enabling general physicians to perform periodontal screening during nationwide periodic health examinations

Since 2005, Austrian physicians have screened for periodontal diseases during free-of-charge periodic health examinations (PHE). Various printed and online materials were designed to inform patients and to support general physicians (GPs) to perform this intervention.

The aim of this study was to examine whether existing clinical decision support (CDS) resources effectively enhance the potential benefits of periodontal screening (PS) by physicians.

Existing printed and online CDS for PS were analyzed and experts were interviewed to ascertain the utility and use of these resources and the existence of Continuing Education (CE) courses to enable GPs to perform PS. The analysis followed the guidelines of the American Medical Informatics Association on determining the quality of CDS. We asked whether existing CDS for PS provided best knowledge when needed; whether it was easily accessible, accepted, widely used, and improved the quality of care; and whether there was continuing improvement based on feedback, experience, and scientific data.

Several Internet-based and printed CDS resources pertaining to PS were identified, with varying degrees of distribution and utilization. However, no formal evaluation had been conducted to determine whether existing CDS systems were used, whether physicians felt that they were of benefit, or whether they enhanced quality outcomes of PS. The findings correlated with other studies and showed that general use of CDS by clinicians was still low.

There is no evidence that Austrian physicians perform PS according to mandate. Current CDS requires evaluation and improvement and CE courses should be offered to support GPs in performing PSs.