Dentists’ attitudes towards chairside medical conditions screening in a dental setting in Saudi Arabia: an exploratory cross-sectional Study

• DOI: 10.1186/s12903-019-0870-x
• Publication Date: 2019-08-06T13:02:27Z
• Authors: Saba Kassim; Badr Othman; Sakher AlQahtani; Alemad Mustafa Ka...; Sterling M. McPhe...; Barbara L. Greenberg
• Keywords: Cross-sectional study

Screening for medical conditions (MCs) of public health importance is a first step in disease prevention and control. Prior studies the United States found oral care providers (OHCPS) embrace screening increased risk dental setting. Our objectives were to assess Saudi Arabian (SA) dentist's attitudes, willingness perceived barriers towards implementing MCs into their practices.A self-administered, 5-point Likert Scale (1 = very important/willing 5 unimportant/unwilling) questionnaire was given convenience sample 190 practicing dentists. Friedman nonparametric analysis variance used compare responses within each question.Of 143 responding dentists mean age 31 years; 102 (71%) men. The majority felt it important dentist screen cardiovascular (98.6%), hypertension (97.9%), diabetes human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) hepatitis C (98.6%). Respondents willing refer patient physician (97.9%); send samples an outside laboratory (96.1%); conduct that yields immediate results (96.2%); discuss immediately with (93.7%). measure/collect blood pressure (67.2%); weight height (63.7%); finger stick (54.6%). whole (100%) reported time as barrier. significantly more consultation than (mean ranks: 2.32, 2.81, P < 0.001); measure take fluids salivary diagnostics ranks 2.22, 2.75, p 0.003). Insurance (P 0.05) less barrier time, cost, patients' or liability 3.56, 2.63, 3.00, 2.79, 3.02, respectively).The this study positive attitudes perform screenings practice. Time factor.