Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Emergency Department Healthcare Professionals Towards Traumatic Dental Injuries...

Background/Objectives: Emergency department healthcare professionals are often the first to provide treatment, yet studies indicate limited knowledge in Traumatic Dental Injuries (TDIs) management among these providers. While research on TDI management in emergency departments exists globally, recent data from Saudi Arabia is lacking. This study aims to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of emergency department physicians, nurses, and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) regarding TDIs in three major hospitals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Results: Physicians (46.4%) were significantly (p = 0.02) more likely to respond that they have sufficient knowledge about TDIs compared to nurses and EMS personnel. Of the 221 respondents, 136 (62%) were in the age group of 30-40 years, while females (OR 4.23, p = 0.00, CI 2.29-23.13) and nurses (OR 4.88, p = 0.00, CI 2.39-9.96) were more likely to say 'No' for any form of training they received in dental trauma during their education. Young (20-30 years old) professionals (OR 3.70, p = 0.04, CI 1.53-8.92) were less likely to feel confident in managing cases of dental trauma compared to their senior colleagues. Conclusions: In this study, nurses' and EMS personnel's knowledge of dental trauma management was poorer than that of physicians. Most respondents reported that dental trauma management was not part of their curriculum or training, which, in turn, was reflected in their low confidence in managing such cases.