Dentists’ Knowledge, Attitude and Practices Regarding Dental Care for Children with Special Healthcare Needs in Saudi Arabia

1. Associate Professor, Department of Preventive Dental Sciences, Ibn Sina National College for Medical Studies, Jeddah, Makkah, Saudi Arabia. 2. Intern, Department of Oral Basic and Clinical Sciences, Ibn Sina National College for Medical Studies, Jeddah, Makkah, Saudi Arabia. 3. Intern, Department of Oral Basic and Clinical Sciences, Ibn Sina National College for Medical Studies, Jeddah, Makkah, Saudi Arabia. 4. Intern, Department of Oral Basic and Clinical Sciences, Ibn Sina National College for Medical Studies, Jeddah, Makkah, Saudi Arabia. 5. Intern, Department of Oral Basic and Clinical Sciences, Ibn Sina National College for Medical Studies, Jeddah, Makkah, Saudi Arabia. 6. Associate Professor, Department of Oral Basic and Clinical Sciences, Ibn Sina National College for Medical Studies, Jeddah, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Introduction: Despite advancements in dentistry, children with special needs continue to have poor oral health, with a higher prevalence of untreated dental caries and periodontal disease. Many treating dentists and the parents of these children encounter difficulty managing these children and the quality of their oral health will be determined by this. Hence, identifying and overcoming the barriers of managing children with Special Healthcare Needs (SHCN) can be assessed as important step in addressing their treatment needs.

Aim: The study investigated the perceptions of general and paediatric dentists in Saudi Arabia, regarding the treatment needs and challenges posed while providing dental care to children with special needs.

Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional, questionnairebased study was conducted among 447 general dentists and 76 paediatric dentists in Saudi Arabia during five month period between 15th October 2021 to 15th March 2022. A prevalidated questionnaire consisting of 18 close-ended questions assessing the knowledge, attitude and practices of the dentists related to children with SHCN was emailed to each dentist. The data was analysed using the IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22.0 (IBM, Chicago, USA). The threshold for significance was established at 5%. The significance of study variables was determined utilising Chi-square test.

Results: Most paediatric dentists and general dentists were of the opinion that mental/behavioural/cognitive disability was the most difficult to manage (p<0.001). Out of the total, 66.2% of the dentists were aware of the dental home concept in managing children with SHCN. The knowledge related factors that were significantly associated, included type of impairment most difficult to manage (p<0.001) and awareness of the dental home concept (p<0.001). Regarding attitude, both general and paediatric dentists agreed that providing oral care is as important as providing medical care and that they were confident in treating these children (p<0.001). The practices related factors that were significantly associated included supporting staff's comfort in treating these children (p=0.004), accessibility of clinic (p<0.001), the availability of equipment to treat (p=0.02), and the techniques most commonly used for managing the behaviour of SHCN children (p<0.001).

Conclusion: The two most significant challenges to a SHCN child receiving dental care were a lack of access to a dentist who can provide oral care and limitations in the child’s cooperation during the procedure. The unmet treatment needs of these children can be considerably reduced by improving parental awareness, facilitating approaches that enhance patient compliance and providing convenient access to dental care.

Barriers for dental treatment, Special child, Unmet treatment needs

The higher prevalence of caries and deprived periodontal health among children with special needs as a result of unmet challenges in maintaining proper oral hygiene has become a growing concern among their parents as well as treating dentists worldwide and in Saudi Arabia (1),(2),(3),(4). Although, there is contradictory data reported in the literature regarding the increased prevalence of caries among these children, sufficient data suggests a higher prevalence and severity of periodontal disease among these children (1),(5),(6).

Poor oral hygiene is common among children with disabilities, either as a result of their limited physical dexterity or as a side effect of the medications they consume (7). The focus, however, has been to establish a comprehensive treatment plan that meets the dental, behavioural and medical needs of the patient during their lifetime. Parents’ difficulty in carrying out routine oral hygiene and dentists’ expertise, skill and attitude in treating these children will determine their quality of oral health. Many dentists express their difficulties in managing these children, citing inadequate professional training, ergonomic limitations, the lack of special consulting room facilities that require special equipment, a lack of scientific knowledge and feelings of insecurity (8).

Untreated dental problems can result in poor oral health due to caregivers’ inability to assess the child’s oral condition, the child’s incapacity to verbalise pain or discomfort and more relevantly, the lack of access to dental treatment. So, identifying and overcoming these barriers can be an important step in addressing treatment needs among these children for treating dentists (2). Furthermore, no study till date evaluated and compared the perceptions of the treating general dentists and paediatric dentists regarding the challenges they posed while managing these children. Bridging the gap between them is essential to ensure that early, comprehensive and effective treatment is rendered to these children. Hence, the present study was planned to investigate the perceptions of general dental practitioners and paediatric dentists in Saudi Arabia, regarding the treatment needs and challenges posed in providing dental care to children with special needs.

Material and Methods

A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted in Saudi Arabia among general dentists and paediatric dentists during five month period between 15^th October 2021 to 15^th March 2022. The ethical clearance [No: IRRB-02-17102021] from the Institutional Review Board was obtained. A convenient sampling technique was adopted for the study.

Inclusion and Exclusion criteria: The study included general dentists and paediatric dentists practicing in Saudi Arabia who willingly participated and completed the questionnaire. Questionnaires that were not completely filled out were excluded.

Sample size calculation: Considering the number of general dentists and paediatric dentists in Saudi Arabia to be 20000 and 500 respectively (9), a minimal sample size determined was 377 and 64 respectively at a confidence interval of 95%, assuming the frequency of knowledge regarding SHCN in the study population is 50% for general dentists and 90% for paediatric dentists, respectively.

Questionnaire

A prevalidated questionnaire from the published study of Adyanthaya A et al., was used for the study (10). After consultation with the subject experts, minor modifications to the questions were made to match them for the health professionals. Cronbach’s alpha was assessed (0.89) to determine the reliability of the questionnaire. The close-ended multiple choice questionnaire consisted of 18 questions to assess their knowledge (5), attitude (5) and practices (8) about oral health and the treatment of special needs children. The questionnaire was mailed to the dentists and they were informed that their response was considered as their willingness to participate in the study. Demographic information about the type and duration of practice was gathered. To maintain confidentiality, the participants were assured that their responses would not be disclosed.

Statistical Analysis

The data received from the duly filled questionnaires was subjected to statistical analysis using the IBM SPSS version 22.0 (IBM, Chicago, USA). The threshold for significance was established at 5%. Chi-square test was used to compare the data between general dentists and peadiatric dentists.

Results

The present study included 447 general dentists and 76 paediatric dentists, majority of them were having less than 10 years of experience, i.e., 36.5% with less than five years and 30.8% with 6-10 years of experience. The (Table/Fig 1) describes the demographic status of the study population describing their type of practice and years of experience of the enrolled dentists. The (Table/Fig 2),(Table/Fig 3),(Table/Fig 4) illustrate general dentists’ and paediatric dentists’ knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding the management of SHCN, respectively. Most paediatric dentists and general dentists were of the opinion that mental/behavioural/cognitive disability was the most difficult to manage (p<0.001). Out of the total, 66.2% of the dentists were aware of the dental home concept in managing children with SHCN.

The knowledge factors that showed a statistically significant association among general dentists and paediatric dentists regarding the management of children with SHCN were the type of impairment most difficult to manage (p<0.001), awareness of the dental home concept (p<0.001), and important strategies adopted to prevent oral disease (p=0.002).

Regarding attitude, most general and paediatric dentists agreed that providing oral care is as important as providing medical care to a child with SHCN (p<0.001) and that they were confident in treating these children (p<0.001). There was a significant difference (p=0.002) in the perception between general dentists and paediatric dentists regarding the level that special care dentistry needs to be taught during the undergraduate course, which can affect the quality of care for children with SHCN. Most general dentists believed that training should be theoretical or clinical observation-based, whereas paediatric dentists believed that various levels of treatment and assistance in special care dentistry, in addition to clinical observation, were required.

The factors related to practices that showed a statistically significant association among general dentists and paediatric dentists regarding the management of children with SHCN included supporting staff’s comfort in treating these children (p=0.004), accessibility of clinic (p<0.001), the availability of equipment to treat (p=0.02), and the techniques most commonly used for managing the behaviour of SHCN children (p<0.001).

Discussion

According to the findings of the present study, among all types of special children, dentists were least comfortable treating those with mental disabilities because it is more difficult to manage their behaviour. They may exhibit resistive behaviour as a result of dental fear or a lack of knowledge about dental care which can jeopardise the delivery of safe dental care (11). Most patients with physical and developmental disabilities can be managed in the dental office with the help of their parents or caregivers. In patients with mental disability for whom typical behaviour management strategies are ineffective, protective stabilisation can be beneficial (11). Children with SHCN may display anxiety during dental treatment, which can affect the frequency of dental appointments and, as a result, can affect the oral health. Assessing anxiety or dental fear can be difficult, thus a parent or caregiver narrative can be beneficial in some circumstances (12). The patients’ cognitive, motor and sensory elements can be overcome in these patients under general anaesthesia, allowing the dentists to complete the diagnosis and perform dental treatments with less difficulty and higher quality (13). Furthermore, evidence from the studies by Mallineni SK and Yiu CKY suggests that parental satisfaction with GA-assisted dental care has been steadily growing in recent years, and that it is currently preferred over conventional behavioural management strategies performed in the dental clinic (14). However, American Academy of Paediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends that sedation or general anaesthesia are the behavioural guidance tools that may be used as the last resort when protective stabilisation is not possible (15).

The age at which these children report for their first dental visit would also determine the level of difficulty in managing these children (16). In the present study, only 26.2% of dentists stated that children with SHCN visited to the dentist for the first time below the age of one year and 25.4% parents reported for first dental visit of their child between three to six years which is similar to the findings of Nayak UA et al., in Saudi Arabia (17).

Children with SHCN are considered high risk and should undergo a dental check-up by the age of one year, as per the recommendations of American Academy of Paediatrics (16),(18). Depending on risk factors, these children need to see a paediatric dentist for professional preventive care every three months. Any child who presents with caries, gingivitis, or eruption abnormalities should see a paediatric dentist right away (17). The dentists in the present study firmly believed that early establishment of dental home would help these children get early interventions in these children. These findings are in accordance with the recommendations of AAPD which suggests that SHCN children utilising dental home facilities are also more likely to receive tailored preventive and regular oral care, lowering the risk of preventable dental and oral diseases (19).

Lack of awareness and knowledge among parents had been cited by the dentists of the present study as the most important reason that hinders a child with SHCN from seeking preventive dental care. When a child with SHCN has a family member who has a chronic emotional, behavioural, or developmental disorder, the rate of unmet need is greater (20). Untreated dental problems may lead to a child’s general oral health being impaired owing to a parent’s failure to evaluate the child’s oral health, the child’s inability to articulate pain or discomfort, or a lack of access to dental treatment (21). A strong positive association was identified in a study by Bernabé E et al., in 2011, between the carers’ level of education and the frequency of visits to the dentist, which is consistent with present study. This observation may be linked to their financial situation. Highly educated caregivers are more likely to live in better socioeconomic and social environment, which contributes to higher utilisation dental services (22).

The dentists of the present study were of the opinion that the access to a dentist providing care and the limitations in the child’s cooperation are the two most barriers that can hinder the SHCN child from receiving dental care. According to Skinner AC et al., rural children with SHCN had more unmet dental care needs than urban children. This is attributed to difficulties in obtaining care and their parents’ failure to recognise a need (23). Furthermore, due to the child’s pre-existing medical condition, dental treatment may become more challenging. The financial strain on parents is exacerbated by multiple trips and pricey dental care (24).

A dentist’s lack of knowledge and practical experience can also make it difficult to provide dental treatment to these special children (17). The level at which special care dentistry is taught during undergraduate course can impact the level of knowledge and skills a dentist can acquire. The present study throws more light to the fact that the paediatric dentists display better knowledge and skills in managing these children in the dental office when compared to the general dentists because they receive more comprehensive practical training and where is the general dentists’ training is limited to theory and or clinical observation. Only a small percentage of general dentists receive professional training in treating these children. Hence, positive outcomes require effective care coordination and communication between dentists, parents/guardians and other providers. Our current dental healthcare system has fallen short of meeting the needs of people with SHCN (25).

Non financial barriers include language, emotional, structural and cultural inhibitions among children with SHCN. Oral health views, caregiver accountability norms and the caregiver’s previous dental experience are all psychosocial hurdles. Transportation, school absence policies and difficulties finding medicaid accepting providers are examples of structural hurdles (26). The present study suggested that the paediatric dentist have an edge over general dentist and their technique is well equipped to treat these children. They were also involved in training their supporting staff to better manage a special child patient in dental clinic.

The technique most commonly followed for managing behaviour of these children had been significantly different between the paediatric dentists and the general dentists of the present study (p<0.001). The general dentists used more conservative approaches using behaviour management techniques such a voice control, Tell-showdo, distraction, contingency management, whereas the paediatric dentists preferred to use gender anaesthesia to manage the behaviour of these children. The paediatric dentists also followed more comprehensive approach in treating these children when compared to the general dentists.

Children with pre-existing medical illnesses reportedly consume more drugs and were older than those with intellectual disabilities. Dental restorations (63%) and extractions (47%) were the most common dental treatments (27). However, there was no link between the type of disability and the requirement for dental therapy. Children with intellectual disabilities were three times more likely than the other group to require general anaesthesia and seven times more likely to require physical restraint for dental care (28). It is imperative to improve the compliance of paediatric dental patients with preventive dental visits after treatment under GA, regardless of health status. Caregivers must be better educated in order to implement change, and care barriers must be investigated regularly (28). Frequently updating knowledge through continuing dental educations, conferences, etc. would aid the practicing dentist in delivering evidence based dental care to these needy children.

The following are some of the benefits of a family centered approach to building a strong parent provider relationship. To begin with, parents must be recognised as the primary supervisors of their children’s healthcare. Second, consider flexibility when arranging appointments, since they may have many healthcare visits for various therapies, as well as avoid no-show or canceled appointments. Third, if necessary, facilitate any necessary referrals. Fourth, provide information about community-based options and advocate for the utilisation of appropriate services, such as hospitals and, most importantly, involve families in child care decisions (29). The (Table/Fig 5) summarises the studies regarding barriers of treatment among children with SHCN (10),(30),(31),(32),(33).

Limitation(s)

One limitation of the present study could be addressed by assessing the role of specific barriers to treatment among the parents and children too. These studies would provide a panoramic view regarding improving the unmet treatment needs of these children. Hence, it is recommended to conduct region-based studies to overcome the barriers for treatment among the parents of children with SCHN, as well as among their treating dentists.

Conclusion

The present study inferred that access to a dentist providing care and the limitations in the child’s cooperation are the two most barriers that can hinder the SHCN child from receiving dental care. The paediatric dentists were more confident and had superior knowledge and skills, allowing them to provide comprehensive treatment to children, whereas general dentists provided conservative dental treatment due to their limited knowledge and training. The take-away message from the present study is to identify and eliminate challenges as soon as possible in order to deliver the best possible healthcare to these individuals. These children’s unmet treatment needs can be considerably lowered by improving parental awareness and education, supporting patient compliance-enhancing strategies and providing convenient access to dental care through early dental home utilisation, all of which will help them live a better life.

DOI and Others

DOI: 10.7860/JCDR/2022/57379.16933

Date of Submission: Apr 27, 2022
Date of Peer Review: May 21, 2022
Date of Acceptance: Jun 18, 2022
Date of Publishing: Oct 01, 2022

AUTHOR DECLARATION:
• Financial or Other Competing Interests: None
• Was Ethics Committee Approval obtained for this study? Yes
• Was informed consent obtained from the subjects involved in the study? Yes
• For any images presented appropriate consent has been obtained from the subjects. NA

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ETYMOLOGY: Author Origin