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Pediatricians' Knowledge of Children's Oral Health: A National Survey
Abrar Alanzi1, Saleh Muhammad2, Anfal Faridoun2
1Department of Developmental and Preventive Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Kuwait University, Kuwait City, Kuwait.
Insights
Pediatricians in Kuwait show good knowledge of anticipatory guidance but lack understanding of preventive dental measures and trauma management. Enhanced training in pediatric oral health is crucial for improving child dental caries outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric medicine
- Public health
- Dental public health
Background:
- High prevalence of dental caries in 4- and 5-year-old Kuwaiti children necessitates pediatrician involvement.
- Pediatricians are frequently consulted by parents, offering opportunities to impact children's oral health.
- Evaluating pediatrician knowledge is key to improving pediatric oral health strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the knowledge and awareness levels of pediatricians and pediatric residents in Kuwait regarding children's oral health.
- To identify gaps in understanding preventive dental practices and dental trauma management among pediatric healthcare providers.
Main Methods:
- A national cross-sectional survey was conducted among practicing pediatricians and residents in Kuwait.
- Data collected included demographics, knowledge of caries prevention, anticipatory guidance, and experience with dental issues.
- Both online and paper-based survey formats were utilized for data collection.
Main Results:
- Out of 230 participants, 81% frequently observed dental caries in their patients.
- While two-thirds felt confident detecting caries, over two-thirds lacked knowledge of preventive practices and trauma management.
- Only 16.5% achieved satisfactory scores on preventive measures, compared to 51% on anticipatory guidance; confidence in detection correlated with guidance knowledge.
Conclusions:
- Pediatricians possess adequate knowledge of current anticipatory guidance but insufficient understanding of preventive dental measures and dental trauma.
- Significant gaps exist in practical knowledge regarding sugar-free syrup prescription and mouthguard counseling.
- Enhanced education and training in pediatric oral health are strongly recommended for healthcare providers.
Background:
A high percentage of dental caries (∼70%) was reported amongst 4- and 5-year-old Kuwaiti kindergarten children. Parents contact paediatricians several times during the child's early life. Paediatricians can play an important role in improving the oral health of their patients. The objective of the study is to evaluate the knowledge level and awareness of paediatricians and paediatric residents regarding children's oral health in Kuwait.
Methods:
A national cross-sectional survey was distributed to paediatricians and paediatric residents practicing in Kuwait. Data concerning demographic variables, knowledge on dental caries preventive measures, current anticipatory guidance, and experience with dental problems and oral care were collected using online and paper-based surveys.
Results:
A total of 230 participants completed the survey, with a response rate of 50.1%. Most respondents (81%) had frequently noticed dental caries in children in their practice. Two-thirds of respondents felt confident in detecting dental caries. However, more than two-thirds were unfamiliar with preventive dental practices and the management of dental trauma. Only 16.5% of the respondents got a satisfactory knowledge score on the preventive measure questions, and nearly 51% had satisfactory knowledge on the recent anticipatory guidance questions. No significant correlations were found between gender or years of practice and knowledge scores. Respondents' confidence in detecting caries was significantly associated with the knowledge score of the anticipatory guidance (P = .003). Fewer than half of the respondents considered prescribing sugar-free syrup (47.4%) and counselled patients regarding the use of mouthguards during sports for schoolchildren (39%).
Conclusions:
The majority of paediatricians have adequate knowledge of the current anticipatory guidance of oral health issues, but they have insufficient knowledge of oral preventative measures and dental trauma. Adequate education and training in oral health are highly recommended.
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