Knowledge, Attitude, Behavior, and Practice toward Minimal Intervention Dentistry among Dental Professionals in Bengaluru City, India

Abstract

Aims:The emphasis on caries prevention and early detection has led to a paradigm shift toward the concept of minimal intervention dentistry (MID). Despite the benefits of MID in the preservation of dental components and significant reliability, the clinical application is still limited. This study was, therefore, aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, practices, and clinical decision behaviors of dental professionals of Bengaluru city, Karnataka, India. Materials and methods:A cross-sectional questionnairebased survey was conducted in Bengaluru city, Karnataka, India, in the year 2016 for a period of 1 month among dental professionals. Data were collected using 25 questions focused on knowledge, attitude, practice, and behavior toward MID. The descriptive data were analyzed; statistical evaluation was done by chi-square test.Results: Among 100 respondents, the mean scores for knowledge, attitude, and clinical decision were 3.57 ± 0.685, 0 to 4; 18.84 ± 2.21, 5 to 25; and 4.69 ± 0.78, 0 to 6 respectively. Data showed that dental professionals had adequate knowledge and a positive attitude toward MID. A weak positive correlation was seen between knowledge and attitude (r = -0.059, p = 0.55) and knowledge and clinical decision (r = -0.050, p = 0.62). Conclusion:Adequate knowledge and positive attitude neither influenced their clinical decision-making behavior nor their practical application of MID. A nationwide awareness campaign has to be done to alarm the authorities in making and implementing a course of action for updating the practice and clinical decisions behaviors of dental professionals in the country.