Examining US Pediatric Residents’ Oral Health Care Knowledge, Training, Practices and Perceptions

Main Article Content

Prithwijit Das Miriam R Singer Haelynn Gim Nicol Awadalla Meng’ou Zhu Ruth Milanaik

Abstract

Pediatric residents nationwide (n=187) completed an anonymous survey designed to assess their confidence and knowledge surrounding oral health topics, level of oral health training in residency, attitudes regarding pediatricians’ role in oral health care, and likelihood of performing specific oral health tasks. On average, pediatric residents reported feeling “moderately knowledgeable” about preventive oral health topics and “slightly knowledgeable” about developmental oral health topics. Overall, residents answered 62% of preventive oral health questions and 46% of developmental oral health questions correctly. Residents reported receiving low levels of oral health training, with 5 out of 9 oral health topics covered by fewer than 50% of respondents. Most residents agreed that pediatricians play an important role in oral health care but fewer residents routinely performed oral health tasks. Increased emphasis on this subject in residency education is essential for the promotion of children’s oral health.


 

Keywords: oral health, pediatric resident, medical education, dental, oral hygiene

Article Details

How to Cite
DAS, Prithwijit et al. Examining US Pediatric Residents’ Oral Health Care Knowledge, Training, Practices and Perceptions. Medical Research Archives, [S.l.], v. 7, n. 8, aug. 2019. ISSN 2375-1924. Available at: <https://esmed.org/MRA/mra/article/view/1945>. Date accessed: 10 oct. 2024. doi: https://doi.org/10.18103/mra.v7i7.1945.
Section
Research Articles

References

1. Department of Health and Human Services. Oral Health in America: A Report of the Surgeon General. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, 2000.
2. Jackson SL, Vann WF, Kotch JB, Pahel BT, Lee JY. Impact of poor oral health on children’s school attendance and performance. Am J Public Health. 2011;101(10):1900-1906. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2010.200915.
3. Gomes, MC, Pinto-Sarmento TC, Costa EM, Martins CC, Granville-Garcia AF, Paiva, SM. Impact of oral health conditions on the quality of life of preschool children and their families: a cross-sectional study. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2014;12(55).doi: 10.1186/1477-7525-12-55.
4. Liu J, Probst JC, Martin AB, Wang J, Salinas CF. Disparities in dental insurance coverage and dental care among US children: The National Survey of Children’s Health. Pediatrics. 2007;119:S12-S20. doi: 10.1542/peds.2006-2089D.
5. Guarnizo-Herreño CC, Wehby GL. Explaining racial/ethnic disparities in children’s dental health: a decomposition analysis. Am J Public Health. 2012;102(5):859-866.
doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2011.300548.
6. American Academy of Pediatrics. Maintaining and improving the oral health of young children. Pediatrics. 2014;134(6):1224-1229.
7. Caspary, G., Krol, D., Boulter, S., Keels, M., Romano-Clarke, G. Perceptions of oral health training and attitudes toward performing oral health screenings among graduating pediatric residents. Pediatrics. 2008;122(2):e465-e471. http://dx.doi.org/10.1542/peds.2007-3160
8. Gereige RS, Dhepyasuwan N, Garcia KL, Vasan R, Serwint JR, Bernstein HH. Pediatric residents’ knowledge and comfort with oral health Bright Futures concepts: A CORNET study. Acad Pediatr. 2015;15(5):551-556.
9. American Academy of Pediatrics. Oral Health Practice Tools. Available at https://www.aap.org/en-us/advocacy-and-policy/aap-health-initiatives/Oral-Health/Pages/Oral-Health-Practice-Tools.aspx. Accessed July 9th 2018.
10. Berg JH, Stapleton B. Physician and dentist: new initiatives to jointly mitigate early childhood oral disease. Clin Pediatr. 2012;51(6):531-537. doi: 10.1177/0009922811435167.
11. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration. Designated HPSA Statistics Report, 2013.
12. Murrin S. Most children with Medicaid in four states are not receiving required dental services. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Office of Inspector General, 2016.
13. Decker, SL. Medicaid payment levels to dentists and access to dental care among children and adolescents. JAMA. 2011;306(2):187-193. doi: 10.1001/jama.2011.956.
14. Ditto MR, Jones JE, Sanders B, Weddell JA, Jackson R, Tomlin A. Pediatrician’s role in children’s oral health: An Indiana study. Clinic Pediatr. 2010;49(1):12-19. doi: 10.1177/0009922809343718.
15. Dye BA, Thorton-Evans B, Li X, Lafolla TJ. Dental caries and sealant prevalence in children and adolescents in the United States, 2011-2012. NCHS Data Brief. 2015;191:1-8.
16. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hygiene-related diseases: dental caries (tooth decay). https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/hygiene/disease/dental_caries.html. Accessed October 6, 2018.
17. Paschal AM, Wilroy JD, Hawley SR. Unmet needs for dental care in children with special health care needs. Prev Med Reports. 2016;3:62-67. doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2015.11.013
18. Jackson SL, Vann WF, Kotch JB, Pahel BT, Lee JY. Impact of poor oral health on children’s school attendance and performance. Am J Public Health. 2011;101(10):1900-1906. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2010.200915.
19. Shortridge EF, Moore JR. Use of emergency departments for conditions related to poor oral healthcare: implications for rural and low-resource urban areas for three states. J Public Health Manag Pract. 2009;15:238–245. doi: 10.1097/PHH.0b013e3181a1179f.
20. Wall T, Vujicic M. Health Policy Institute Research Brief. Emergency Department Use for dental conditions continues to increase. American Dental Association. April 2015. http://www.ada.org/~/media/ADA/Science%20and%20Research/HPI/Files/HPIBrief_0415_2.ashx. Accessed July 27, 2018
21. National Interprofessional Initiative on Oral Health. Programs and partnerships. http://www.dentaquestfoundation.org/programs-partnerships/national-partnerships/national-interprofessional-initiative-oral-health-niioh.
Accessed September 4, 2018.
22. American Academy of Pediatrics. Maintaining and improving the oral health of young children. Pediatrics. 2014;134(6):1224-1229.
23. Gonsalvez WC, Skelton J, Smith T, Hardison D, Ferretti G. Physicians’ oral health education in Kentucky. Family Medicine. 2004;36(8):544-546.
24. Bailey A, Freudenthal J, Bowen D., Neill K. Oral health and interprofessional education experiences in family medicine and pediatric residency. Health and Interprofessional Practice. 2015;2(3):eP1081. https://doi.org/10.7710/2159-1253.1081
25. Ferullo A, Silk H, Savageau JA. Teaching oral health in U.S. medical schools: Results of a national survey. Acad Med. 2011;86(2):226-230. doi: 10.1097/ACM.0b013e3182045a51.
26. Talib N, Onikul R, Filardi D, Simon S, Sharma V. Effective educational instruction on preentative oral health: Hands-on training versus web-based training. Pediatrics. 2012;125(3), 547-553. http://dx.doi.org/10.1542.peds.2009-0470.
27. Bailey A, Freudenthal J, Bowen D, Neill K. Oral health and interprofessional education experiences in family medicine and pediatric residency. Health and Interprofessional Practice. 2015;2(3):eP1081. https://doi.org/10.7710/2159-1253.1081