| Popis: |
Aims: The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and attitude of patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus, their oral hygiene practices, and the sources of information about their oral health in Mangalore, India. Materials and Methods: The study involved 300 patients diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes mellitus, undergoing treatment and reporting to A.B. Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences and K.S. Hegde Medical Academy and Hospital, Mangalore, to whom a questionnaire was distributed. The resulting data were evaluated using statistical software and the frequency of distribution was calculated, followed by the percentage. Results: The knowledge of diabetics about their increased risk for oral diseases was low (50%) when compared with their knowledge about the systemic complications associated with diabetes. In respect to their oral hygiene practices, 62% of the patients brushed their teeth twice daily while only 24% of the participants used other aids to maintain their oral hygiene. Regarding participants' sources of information about their oral health, majority of the participants had received the information from their dentist. Conclusions: The results of this study show decreased awareness of diabetic patients about their increased risk for oral diseases. The health care providers should play an important role in educating the patients which would help in minimizing the complications and, thus, improve their overall health and quality of life. |
