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Updated: Aug 5, 2026
Oral Health Assessment by Lay Personnel for Older Adults
Published on: February 2, 2020
Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Pediatric Nurses in Dubai Regarding Oral Health Care: A Cross-sectional Study
Aisha Almemari1, Manal Al Halabi1, Iyad Hussein1
1Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Background:
Oral health care is a crucial part of nursing for pediatric patients. General pediatric nurses need appropriate knowledge to provide effective preventive care, yet oral health is often overlooked and insufficiently integrated into daily practice.
Aim:
To assess the oral health knowledge, attitudes, and practices of nurses caring for pediatric patients in Dubai.
Materials And Methods:
A cross-sectional study using a validated questionnaire gathered socio-demographic data and assessed pediatric dental knowledge and attitudes. A 5-point Likert scale evaluated opinions on preventing children's oral diseases and willingness to pursue further oral health education. Knowledge and attitude scores were calculated; Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests assessed associations.
Results:
Among 125 nurses, the mean knowledge score was 69.5%. Female nurses and those over 30 years had significantly higher scores (p < 0.05). Most nurses performed oral care screenings for hospitalized children, but over half rarely assessed orthodontic appliances or preventive programs for children with special health care needs. Only 33.6% recognized xylitol's anticaries role, and 63.2% knew the recommended age for a first dental visit. Despite 57.6% perceiving nursing-led oral care as ineffective, 86.9% requested hands-on training, and 84.2% sought further education.
Conclusion:
Pediatric nurses in Dubai demonstrate adequate theoretical oral health knowledge but notable practice gaps. Structured training programs and integration of oral health into pediatric nursing protocols could enhance preventive practices, strengthen early detection and referral, and help reduce the high prevalence of early childhood caries in the UAE.
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