Challenges in Managing Patients With Special Healthcare Needs: A Cross-Sectional Study of General Dental...

This study aimed to evaluate the clinical, communicative, and structural challenges encountered by general dental practitioners working outside university settings in managing patients with special healthcare needs.

This observational, cross-sectional survey included 395 dental practitioners. Data were collected using a structured online questionnaire assessing demographics, patient acceptance, clinical infrastructure, perceived competence, and challenges. Statistical analyses included t-test, one-way ANOVA with Tukey HSD, chi-square, and Spearman correlation tests (p < 0.05). Only 45.1% of practitioners accepted patients with special healthcare needs without restriction. The main barriers were inadequate equipment (62.3%), insufficient training and experience (56.5%), and accessibility limitations (53.8%). Perceived difficulty was significantly associated with professional experience (p = 0.029), age (p < 0.001), clinical environment suitability (p < 0.001), undergraduate education (p = 0.017), and postgraduate training (p = 0.015). Postgraduate training was also significantly related to perceived competence (p = 0.004). Significant correlations were found between communication, time management, and treatment completion (p < 0.001).

Challenges in managing patients with special healthcare needs are multifactorial. Enhancing education, improving clinical infrastructure, and increasing practitioner perceived competence may improve access to and quality of care.