Family Medicine Residency Directors’ Knowledge and Attitudes About Pediatric Oral Health Education for Residents

Abstract

The Surgeon General's report on oral health called for improved education about oral health, a renewed understanding of relationships between oral and overall health, and an interdisciplinary approach to oral health involving primary care providers. This study examined the following: 1) family medicine residency directors' knowledge of preventive dental care, 2) status of an oral heath curriculum in family medicine residencies, and 3) the likelihood of initiating an oral health curriculum. We conducted a fifty-item survey of family medicine program directors emphasizing pediatric oral health assessed demographics, knowledge of preventive procedures, existing oral health curriculum, composition, and time commitment for an oral health curriculum. Directors returned 208 (45 percent) surveys. Approximately 95 percent agreed that oral health knowledge should be a component of residency training. Most programs are teaching anticipatory guidance. The mean time program directors felt should be given to an oral health curriculum was four hours. Program directors lack knowledge of preventive dental procedures and oral health care recommendations. Oral health care knowledge is felt to be an important component of residency training. Program directors need faculty development for a successful delivery of an oral health curriculum.

Interprofessional Oral Health Education Improves Knowledge, Confidence, and Practice for Pediatric Healthcare Providers

“…The results showed that less than 30% of the program directors felt comfortable with the application of fluoride varnish. The program directors felt this way because of the lack of knowledge on children’s oral health and it was concluded that 95% of family medicine program directors believed oral healthcare knowledge should be a component in the residency training ( 30 ).…”

Knowledge and Orientations of Internal Medicine Trainees Toward Periodontal Disease

“…Nevertheless, few studies 11 , 12 examined a physician's role in identifying, discussing, or preventing oral disease and only focused on children. With the aim of assessing oral health knowledge and orientations of physicians in training, we surveyed internal medicine trainees about their general knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors/practices about periodontal health and disease.…”

What do Parents Know About Oral Health and Care for Preschool Children in the Central Region of Saudi Arabia?

“…Optimum timing of the first dental check-up, for example, can be communicated to parents during well-child visits, which are mandatory for all preschool children after birth. It has been reported that physicians and nurses have the opportunity to provide oral care for preschool children seven times more frequently than dentists, especially those at high-risk for ECC as a result of well-child visits [22]. Interaction between members of the medical and dental communities is consequently crucial to help refer preschool children at high risk for ECC, especially those who do not have a dental home but have an established medical one [23,24].…”