Awareness, Profıcıency and Barrıers for Treatıng Chıldren wıth Specıal Health Care Needs among Dentısts of Gujarat, Indıa- A Cross Sectıonal Survey

Abstract

Introduction: Children with special health care needs (SHCN) are under-resourced dental patient groups worldwide. They are more prone to develop dental caries and periodontal diseases. This may be due to the complex medical and behavioural needs of these children making them difficult population to treat in dental office.

Aim: To evaluate Awareness, Proficiency and Barriers for managing children with special health care needs among dentists of Gujarat, India.

Method: This cross-sectional survey was conducted in Gujarat state of India. A self-structured closed ended validated questionnaire was forwarded to 400 dentists which included general and specialist dentist of Gujarat. The questionnaire gathered data regarding demographics, knowledge, skills and difficulties faced by dentists to treat specially abled children. Participants responded to questionnaire survey were 246. SPSS version 20.0 was used for analysing descriptive analysis through Chi square test. P value of <0.05 was considered to be significant.

Result: 92.28% study population were aware of special care dentistry among which 58.13% have treated special child. Statistically significant difference was found between speciality and awareness of dental home (p =0.005) and AAPD (p=0.000) guidelines for managing such patients. Restorative treatment (42.04%) was most commonly rendered treatment. Greatest challenges in delivering oral care to CSHCNs were lack of adequate knowledge to manage such children majorly in general dentists (42.6%) and less priority given by parents due to prevailing systemic condition and was statistically significant (p-0.04).

Conclusion: Dental care providers though relatively less confident, showed readiness and positive attitude in treating patients with SHCNs. The revision of dental curriculum seems vital to provide the dental graduates, didactic training in managing such children, Also, subsidized resources and awareness camps for parents with SHCNs children can help overcome barriers and bridge the gap of unmet treatment needs.