Dentists’ Opinions in Providing Oral Healthcare to Elderly People: A Questionnaire-Based Online Cross-Sectional Survey

Daria Madunic, Lidia Gavic, Ivan Kovacic, Neven Vidovic, Jasen Vladislavic and Antonija Tadin
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Daria Madunic: Study of Dental Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia
Lidia Gavic: Study of Dental Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia
Ivan Kovacic: Department of Prosthodontics, Study of Dental Medicine, School of medicine, University of Split School of Medicine, 21000 Split, Croatia
Neven Vidovic: Study of Dental Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia
Jasen Vladislavic: Department of Pulmonology, University Hospital Center Split, 21000 Split, Croatia
Antonija Tadin: Department of Restorative Dental Medicine and Endodontics, Study of Dental Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 6, 1-12

Abstract: This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the factors in dentists’ opinions related to oral health and the treatment management of the elderly. An online questionnaire-based survey was conducted among the dentist population ( n = 463). Respondents were divided depending on whether they attended the geriatric dentistry course during their education, and 15 questions on the Likert scale demonstrated the difference in their attitudes. The majority of respondents (61.9%) agree that dental studies should pay more attention to acquiring sufficient knowledge and skills in the treatment of the elderly, and 56.2% would like to attend a course on that subject. Compared to those who participated in the geriatric dentistry course, those who did not consider providing oral healthcare to older people find it more difficult because of its complexity and practical obstacles (37.3% vs. 54%, p ? 0.001). From the results of this study, it can be concluded that there are differences in opinion about the provision of oral healthcare to the elderly between dentists who have and who have not attended a geriatric dentist course during their education. During the dentist’s education, geriatric dentistry courses should have a significant role in providing knowledge for working with the elderly population.

Keywords: dentists; attitudes; elderly; geriatric dentistry (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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