Spanish Paediatricians’ Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Regarding Oral Health of Children under 6 Years of Age: A Cross-Sectional Study

Yolanda Martínez-Beneyto, Celia Navarrete-García, Clara Serna-Muñoz, Veronica Ausina-Márquez, Andrea Poza-Pascual, Antonio Javier Expósito-Delgado, Ascensión Vicente and Antonio J. Ortiz-Ruiz
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Yolanda Martínez-Beneyto: Department of Dermatology, Stomatology and Radiology, Faculty of Medicine-Dentistry, Institute of Biomedical Research, IMIB, University of Murcia, 30008 Murcia, Spain
Celia Navarrete-García: Department of Dermatology, Stomatology and Radiology, Faculty of Medicine-Dentistry, University of Murcia, 30008 Murcia, Spain
Clara Serna-Muñoz: Department of Integral Paediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Murcia, 30008 Murcia, Spain
Veronica Ausina-Márquez: Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, European University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
Andrea Poza-Pascual: Department of Stomatology I, School of Dentistry, University of the Basque Country, 48940 Lejona, Spain
Antonio Javier Expósito-Delgado: Andalusian Health Service, 23006 Jaen, Spain
Ascensión Vicente: Microbiology Section, Department of Biology, Healthcare and Environment, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Av Joan XXIII, 27-31, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
Antonio J. Ortiz-Ruiz: Department of Integral Paediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Murcia, 30008 Murcia, Spain

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 15, 1-12

Abstract: Background: Early Childhood Caries (ECC) is a prevalent chronic pathology, and it has a negative impact on the oral and general health of the child patient. Aim: To evaluate the knowledge, attitudes and practices of Spanish paediatricians regarding early childhood caries according to the professional’s years of experience. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire was conducted by Spanish paediatricians via WhatsApp and e-mails from January to April 2021. Data were analysed using Chi-squared test, Fisher’s exact test and Cramer’s V test. Results: There were a total of 359 participants. Most respondents were women (81.3%) with up to 10 years of professional experience (31.2%) in primary health care and public health. In most cases, participants had an excellent knowledge of primary dentition (90.8%), but they ignored (56%) when the first visit to the dentist should occur. Regarding the aetiological factors of caries, oral hygiene and prevention, a lower rate of knowledge was observed. The majority of participants (80.8%) were not able to identify white spot lesions and enamel defects (76%). They considered that their knowledge in oral health was deficient, highlighting the need to increase their training. Less experienced paediatricians were found to have higher success rates. Conclusions: The level of knowledge and attitudes regarding early childhood caries of the evaluated paediatricians should be improved. Paediatricians had difficulties in identifying early caries lesions and enamel defects. Nevertheless, a higher level of knowledge and positive attitudes towards dental caries has been detected among paediatricians with fewer years of professional experience.

Keywords: early childhood caries; oral health; paediatrics; paediatric dentist; oral habits (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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