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E u r o S c i C o n C o n f e r e n c e o n
Dental & Dental
Hygiene
Journal of Dental and Craniofacial Research
ISSN 2576-392X
M a r c h 2 6 - 2 7 , 2 0 1 8
E d i n b u r g h , S c o t l a n d
Dental & Dental Hygiene 2018
Page 42
Introduction: Different problems as tooth decay, gingivitis and dental erosions
are more frequent in individuals suffering from eating disorders. Previous studies
have shown that there is limited knowledge concerning oral health among different
health professionals working with patients with eating disorders. The purpose of
this survey-based study was to present how the staff describes their knowledge
about the potential risk of oral illness in their patients.
Methodology: The survey consisted of 18 questions with answer options
presented. The questions addressed how the staff perceives the importance of
oral health of their patients and their experience and knowledge of oral symptoms
and how they acquired it and used it in patient care. The response options ranged
from "Very good/very important" to "very bad/not important" for questions that
measured the experiences and attitudes as well as "Yes/No/Do not know" –
answers for the questions measuring whether staff are knowledgeable about the
subject in question. Three participating clinics were included. In total, 53 surveys
were sent of which 29 were answered.
Results: Nearly half of the respondents stated that patients found that oral health
was important. The majority had occasionally received questions about oral
health and they ask their patients about their oral health in relation to their eating
disorders. There were more participants that had obtained their knowledge from
their daily work rather than from earlier undergraduate studies. The results of the
study suggest that participants experienced lack of knowledge in some areas.
Conclusion: This study supports the results of other studies and indicates that
there is a willingness and a need to increase the knowledge of oral health among
the professional categories at the eating disorders clinics.
Biography
Birgitta Lindquist has completed her PhD fromGothenburg Uni-
versity, Sweden. She has been working with carious and eating
disorder patients at the Clinic of Odontology for the past 30
years. She is a Lecturer, Odontology Doctor and Cariology & Oral
Health Practitioner.
Nursing staff knowledge concerning oral
health among eating disorder patients
Birgitta Lindquist, Emma Särnblom & S H Franco
University of Gothenburg, Sweden
Birgitta Lindquist et al., J Den Craniofac Res 2018, Volume: 3
DOI: 10.21767/2576-392X-C1-001