Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Oral Health Promotion among Oral Health Providers in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Aim:This study was to establish a baseline level of knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of oral health promotion (OHP) among oral health providers in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The study also described and evaluated the factors that facilitate or limit the practice of OHP and examined the relationship between the level of knowledge and attitude that practitioners have of OHP and their OHP practice. Materials and methods:A cross-sectional questionnaire included demographic questions and questions on the KAP of oral health promotion. Out of 365 questionnaires that were disseminated, 106 questionnaires were fully completed. Crosstabulation was conducted to establish factors associated with KAP scores. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine the factors that were associated with the practice of OHP. Results:The baseline level of oral health providers' knowledge and attitude toward OHP was fair. Only a few providers have integrated OHP into their practice. Age of participants was significantly associated with knowledge of OHP among the providers. Also, there was a significant difference in mean attitude scores toward OHP by education level. The practice of OHP was significantly related to education level and facility type.Conclusion: Further research focusing on different cities or geographical regions in the KSA is needed to validate this finding. Also, the finding supports the need for continuous training in OHP to ensure that health providers understand and apply OHP practices in their work. Clinical significance:Due to the scarcity of data that measure OHP among oral health providers in the KSA, proper education and training programs by governmental authorities are difficult to implement. This study will provide baseline measures for future investigations for academicians and practitioners, alike.

Oral health providers’ views of oral health promotion in Jazan, Saudi Arabia: a qualitative study

“…Oral health care providers have the important task of promoting oral health and disseminating preventive information to the numerous patients they see in their clinics on a daily basis [ 28 ]. The participants in this study had a positive attitude towards improving OHP in Jazan and recognized their responsibility for educating and improving knowledge about oral health among their patients and the surrounding community [ 14 , 29 ]. This is an improvement from previous studies in Saudi Arabia that found negative attitudes among participants [ 30 ] or only fair attitudes towards OHP [ 14 ].…”

“…The questions for the study were developed in English and based on previously published research [ 14 , 21 ] and a comprehensive literature review. They focused on knowledge, attitudes, and practices of the participants with regards to oral health promotion, including their participation in oral health activities and their views on responsibilities and skills needed to promote better oral health in the general population.…”

“…Financial constraints can contribute to the low awareness levels among the population. Oral health providers have low awareness levels regarding preventive oral healthcare [ 14 ], which may be due to a lack of structured prevention and education programs and a lack of training in oral health [ 14 , 15 ]. There is a disconnect between available knowledge on preventing oral diseases and information being provided in dental practices, dental schools, and community-based programs [ 16 ].…”

“…These skills and knowledge can be obtained through training and experience in OHP and prevention. Oral health care providers can contribute to positive changes in their own behaviour and approach towards promoting oral health [ 14 , 18 ].…”

Access to Dental-Care Services in Jazan, Saudi Arabia: A Scoping Review

“…Since the MOH in Saudi Arabia has a similar health-care system across the country [21], the review included many studies which were conducted in other regions within the country. This scoping review was intended to identify various indicators used in the literature to measure each dimension in Saudi Arabia, to summarize and map the range of existing research with policy implications, to identify gaps in research, and to consider implications for future research.…”