Journal of Isfahan Dental School

Evaluation of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Pediatricians Regarding the Effect of Pediatric Medications on Oral Health of Children

Document Type : مقاله‌های پژوهشی

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Dental Research Center, School of Dentistry, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, Dental Research Center, School of Dentistry, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

3 Dental Research Center, School of Dentistry, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

4 Postgraduate Student of Pediatric Dentistry, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Dental Research Center, School of Dentistry, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract

Introduction: Pediatricians are the first group of health care providers who are responsible for medical care of infants. On the other side the prescribed drugs, especially in liquid dosage forms can increasingly cause dental caries. If pediatricians advise preventive methods to parents and refer children to the dentist properly, dental caries will be obviously controlled. The aim of this study was evaluation of knowledge, attitude and practice of pediatricians regarding effect of pediatric medications on oral health of children. 
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive-analytic study was conducted among 94 pediatricians in Isfahan, Iran, based on a structured questionnaire with closed questions. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 22 and using one-way ANOVA, t-test, Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficient and Cronbach's alpha coefficient. With confidence intervals of 95%
Results: Out of total number of samples, 48.9% were female and 51.1% were male. The average age of total sample was 48 ± 10.75 years. The average score of knowledge in the entire sample was 7.9 ± 1.4 based on 0-10, the attitude was 21.8 ± 3.3 based on 0-28 and the practice was 11.6 ± 2.1 based on 0-15. Pearson correlation coefficient showed that there was a direct and relative relationship between the average score of knowledge and attitude (p value < 0.001, r = 0.520).
Conclusion: Findings from this study revealed a relatively high positive attitude, sufficient knowledge and good practice regarding the effect of pediatric medication on oral health of children among pediatricians.
Keywords: Knowledge, Attitude, Oral health, Pediatricians, Oral drug administration

1. Weeks JC, Dutt A, Robinson PG. Promoting sugar-free medicines: evaluation of a multi-faceted intervention. Community Dent Health 2003; 20(4): 246-50.
2. Grover S, Anuradha P. Prevalence and treatment needs of dental caries among 12 and 15 years old school going children in Lucknow city. Journal of Indian Association of Public Health Dentistry 2011; 9(18): 105-11.
3. Volpato ERL, Palti DG, de Oliveira Lima JE, de Andrade Moreira Machado MA, Aranha AMF, Bandeca MC, et al. When and Why parents seek dental care for children under 36 months. J Int Oral Health 2013; 5(4): 21-5.
4. Yahya BN, Solmaz S. The knowledge, approach and function of pediatricians in prevention of caries in Tehran. J Indian Soc Pedod Prev Dent 2004; 22(3): 148-53.
5. Schafer TE, Adair SM. Prevention of dental disease: the role of the pediatrician. Pediatr Clin North Am 2000; 47(5): 1021-42.
6. Hinze ES, Casamassimo PS, Seale NS, McIlroy M, Kerins CA, McWhorter AG. Relative value of oral health in well-child care: A survey of pediatricians in Texas and Ohio. J Dent Child 2014; 81(2): 84-90.
7. Standing JF, Tuleu C. Paediatric formulations-getting to the heart of the problem. Int J Pharm 2005; 300(1-2): 56-66.
8. Durward C, Thou T. Dental caries and sugar-containing liquid medicines for children in New Zealand. N Z Dent J 1997; 93(414): 124-9.
9. Roberts IF, Roberts GJ. Relation between medicines sweetened with sucrose and dental disease. Br Med J 1979; 2(6181): 14-6.
10. Girish Babu K, Rai K, Hedge A. Pediatric liquid medicaments–do they erode the teeth surface? An in vitro study: part I. J Clin Pediatr Dent 2008; 32(3): 189-94.
11. Marquezan M, Pozzobon RT, Oliveira MDM. Medicines used by pediatric dentistry patients and its cariogenic potential. Rev Pos-Grad 2007; 13: 334-9.
12. Schalka MM, Rodrigues CR. [The importance of the pediatrician in oral health care promotion]. Rev Saude Publica 1996; 30(2): 179-86. [In Portuguese].
13. Kumar P, Dixit A, Gupta V, Singh H, Sargaiyan V. Cross sectional evaluation of awareness of prevention of dental caries among general paediatricians in Ghaziabad district, India. Ann Med Health Sci Res 2014; 4(Suppl 3): S302-6.
14. Walimbe H, Bijle MNA, Nankar M, Kontham U, Bendgude V, Kamath A. Knowledge, attitude and practice of paediatricians toward long-term liquid medicaments associated oral health. J Int Oral Health 2015; 7(1): 36-9.
15. Farias IAP, Sampaio FC, de Morais Freitas CHS. Long-term pediatric sugared medicines: knowledge and attitude of medical practitioners at a university hospital. Rev Gaúcha Odontol 2011; 59(4): 599-602.
16. Shetty RM, Dixit UB. Paediatricians' views on dental and oral health and treatment needs in children. Oral Health Prev Dent 2011; 9(4): 315-22.
17. Bozorgmehr E, Mohammadi TM, Hajizamani A, Vahidi A, Khajoee F. Knowledge, attitude, and practices of pediatricians about children’s oral health. J Oral Health Oral Epidemiol 2012; 1(2): 93-8.
18. Balaban R, Aguiar CM, da Silva Araujo AC, Dias Filho EBR. Knowledge of paediatricians regarding child oral health. Int J Paediatr Dent 2012; 22(4): 286-91.
19. Nirmala SVSG, Popuri VD, Chilamakuri S, Nuvvula S, Veluru S, Babu MSM. Oral health concerns with sweetened medicaments: Pediatricians’ acuity. J Int Soc Prev Community Dent 2015; 5(1): 35-9.
20. American Academy on Pediatric Dentistry Council on Clinical Affairs. Policy on the dental home. Pediatr Dent 2008; 30(7 Suppl): 22-3.
Journal of Isfahan Dental School
Volume 16, Issue 4 - Serial Number 4
January 2021
Pages 457-469