The present study aimed to assess the knowledge and attitudes of three different groups of healthcare providers (obstetricians, general practitioners, and midwives) about the relationship between periodontal disease and PLBW.
Based on the findings of the present study, the knowledge of the mid-wives about oral health and its influence on systemic health was not sufficient; while, they can have an important role in improving the community’s health by detecting oral diseases and referring the patients for appropriate treatment. Therefore, their medical education should emphasize on oral health and its impact on systemic health.
Previously, two studies evaluated the knowledge of obstetricians and one study focused on Nurse Practitioners’ (NPs) and Certified Nurse Midwives’ (CNMs) knowledge regarding periodontal disease as a possible risk factor for PLBW. 12-14 According to their results, both NPs and CNMs had limited knowledge of oral health. 14 For example, only 67% of them knew the description of periodontitis and when they were asked about the causes of periodontal disease, 73% answered tooth decay,69% mentioned aging, and 51% answered excessive dietary sugar. In our study, the results were almost the same and the midwives’ knowledge was less than the obstetricians’ and general practitioners’ knowledge. Nonetheless, both studies evaluating the obstetricians demonstrated that although there was some knowledge about the periodontal disease and its association with adverse obstetric outcomes, the attitudes of the obstetricians was not completely consistent with their apparent knowledge.12, 13 In the study conducted in North Carolina, 12 although a high percentage of the obstetricians believed that periodontal disease could be a possible risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes, recommendations for dental examinations as a part of prenatal care and also visual dental exams during the initial visit or periodically were not routine. However, in a Brazilian study,13 more than 90% of the obstetricians recommended dental examinations during pregnancy, which is consistent with the findings of the present study. Our study showed a negative relationship between general practitioners’ and obstetricians’ experience and doing dental examinations during the initial visit or periodically, while this relationship was positive in the study conducted in North Carolina.12 Our study also showed a negative relationship between the working experience and the frequency of the recommendations for dental examination during pregnancy in obstetricians groups. On the other hand, the Brazilian study showed that more experienced participants more frequently recommended dental examinations to their patients.13 The results of our study might indicate the need for proper training regarding oral health during continuing professional development of those health care providers that deal with pregnant women.
ศึกษามีวัตถุประสงค์เพื่อประเมินความรู้และทัศนคติที่กลุ่มสามสาธารณ (สูติแพทย์ ผู้ปฏิบัติงานทั่วไป และ midwives) เกี่ยวกับความสัมพันธ์ระหว่างโรคปริทันต์และ PLBW จากผลการศึกษา ความรู้กลางภรรยาเกี่ยวกับสุขภาพช่องปากและสุขภาพอิทธิพลของไม่เพียงพอ ในขณะที่ พวกเขาสามารถมีบทบาทสำคัญในการปรับปรุงสุขภาพของชุมชนโดยการตรวจหาโรคทางปาก และส่งตัวผู้ป่วยในการรักษาที่เหมาะสม ดังนั้น การศึกษาทางการแพทย์ควรเน้นสุขภาพช่องปากและผลกระทบต่อสุขภาพ Previously, two studies evaluated the knowledge of obstetricians and one study focused on Nurse Practitioners’ (NPs) and Certified Nurse Midwives’ (CNMs) knowledge regarding periodontal disease as a possible risk factor for PLBW. 12-14 According to their results, both NPs and CNMs had limited knowledge of oral health. 14 For example, only 67% of them knew the description of periodontitis and when they were asked about the causes of periodontal disease, 73% answered tooth decay,69% mentioned aging, and 51% answered excessive dietary sugar. In our study, the results were almost the same and the midwives’ knowledge was less than the obstetricians’ and general practitioners’ knowledge. Nonetheless, both studies evaluating the obstetricians demonstrated that although there was some knowledge about the periodontal disease and its association with adverse obstetric outcomes, the attitudes of the obstetricians was not completely consistent with their apparent knowledge.12, 13 In the study conducted in North Carolina, 12 although a high percentage of the obstetricians believed that periodontal disease could be a possible risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes, recommendations for dental examinations as a part of prenatal care and also visual dental exams during the initial visit or periodically were not routine. However, in a Brazilian study,13 more than 90% of the obstetricians recommended dental examinations during pregnancy, which is consistent with the findings of the present study. Our study showed a negative relationship between general practitioners’ and obstetricians’ experience and doing dental examinations during the initial visit or periodically, while this relationship was positive in the study conducted in North Carolina.12 Our study also showed a negative relationship between the working experience and the frequency of the recommendations for dental examination during pregnancy in obstetricians groups. On the other hand, the Brazilian study showed that more experienced participants more frequently recommended dental examinations to their patients.13 The results of our study might indicate the need for proper training regarding oral health during continuing professional development of those health care providers that deal with pregnant women.
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