Exploring the knowledge of oral health and nutrition among Saudi Arabian dental professionals: a nationwide survey.

Autor: Parveen S; Department of Maxillofacial Surgery and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Dentistry, Jazan University, P.O.BOX 114, Jazan, 45142, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia., Ara SA; Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, AlBadar Dental College and Hospital, Kalaburagi, Karnataka, India. drarshiya@albadardentalcollege.org., Preethanath RS; Department of Preventive Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Jazan University, P.O.BOX 114, Jazan, 45142, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia., Khan SS; Department of Maxillofacial Surgery and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Dentistry, Jazan University, P.O.BOX 114, Jazan, 45142, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia., Osman HA; Department of Preventive Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Jazan University, P.O.BOX 114, Jazan, 45142, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia., Homeida HE; Department of Maxillofacial Surgery and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Dentistry, Jazan University, P.O.BOX 114, Jazan, 45142, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia., Dawod OY; Department of Physical Therapy, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia., Alsayegh AA; Department of Clinical Nutrition, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia., Otayf AY; Clinical Nutrition Department, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Jazan University, Saudi Arabia, 82817, Saudi Arabia., Bajahzer M; Clinical Nutrition Department, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Jazan University, Saudi Arabia, 82817, Saudi Arabia., Elamin NMH; Department of Maxillofacial Surgery and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Dentistry, Jazan University, P.O.BOX 114, Jazan, 45142, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: BMC oral health [BMC Oral Health] 2024 Dec 23; Vol. 24 (1), pp. 1543. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Dec 23.
DOI: 10.1186/s12903-024-05363-7
Abstrakt: Background: The association between diet and oral health is complex, yet understanding the influence of nutrition on oral health among dental professionals is limited. This study aimed to assess the knowledge levels of dental professionals in Saudi Arabia regarding the relationship between diet and oral health.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 211 dental professionals in Saudi Arabia using an 18-item questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using SPSS v23.0. Descriptive statistics were used to calculate the mean, standard deviation (SD), and proportions. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test assessed data normality, while the Chi-squared test and post-hoc Tukey analysis were applied to evaluate associations between variables.
Results: The findings revealed that female practitioners (mean = 13.41, SD = 2.85) and older professionals had higher knowledge levels, with a total mean score of 12.33 (SD = 2.93). Significant correlations were observed between knowledge scores and age (ANOVA: F = 2.874; p = 0.024) and between knowledge scores and gender (t-test: t = 6.68, p < 0.001). Oral Medicine Specialists and Periodontists had the highest knowledge scores, with mean scores of 13.43 (SD = 2.87) and 13.63 (SD = 2.66), respectively, while General Dentists scored lower (mean = 10.49, SD = 3.12; ANOVA: F = 4.462; p < 0.001). Practitioners with less than five years of experience had significantly lower knowledge scores (mean = 11.14, SD = 3.23) compared to those with 5-10 years (mean = 13.40, SD = 2.34) and over 20 years of experience (mean = 12.69, SD = 2.22) (ANOVA: F = 5.016; p = 0.002).
Conclusion: Our findings reveal that dental professionals in Saudi Arabia have varying knowledge regarding the relationship between diet and oral health. While awareness exists, there are gaps in understanding the nutritional factors influencing oral health outcomes. Addressing these knowledge gaps through targeted educational interventions is essential, given the crucial role dental professionals play in promoting oral health and educating patients on the importance of nutrition. Enhancing this knowledge will improve patient care and contribute to better community health outcomes through informed preventive strategies and public health initiatives.
Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: The Jazan University Standing Committee on the Ethics of Scientific Research (REC-45/05/895, HAPO-10-Z-001) approved the study, ensuring ethical guidelines were followed. Informed consent was obtained from all participants before the study began, and the study complied with the principles established in the Helsinki Declaration. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.
(© 2024. The Author(s).)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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