Knowledge, Attitude, Awareness About The Role Of Oral Pathologist - A Survey Among General Dentists

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Dhivya Sri. E , Reshma. P.K, Suganya. P

Abstract

 


BACKGROUND - There is a paucity of information about knowledge,attitude and awareness about the role of oral pathology among general dentists. Oral pathology is the branch of dental science dealing with pathology affecting the oral and maxillofacial regions.The information about the current scenario of oral pathology speciality and its future perspective is evident in the literature.


AIM - To assess knowledge, attitude and awareness about the role of Oral pathologist among general dentists.


MATERIALS AND METHODS - The  printed and validated questionnaire regarding the role of oral pathology was supplied to general dentists. The data collection software is google forms. The data was tabulated in an excel spreadsheet. The data was collected and statistically analysed in SPSS. Chi-Square analysis was performed and p<0.05 was considered as statistically significant.


RESULTS - Most participants surveyed about 31.2 % of the oral pathologists are mainly involved in Teaching, 31.2%  of the participants mentioned that they do Clinical practicing  and 19.3%  mentioned that oral pathologists review dental x-rays and 18.34% mentioned that they perform tissue and bone biopsies (Chi-Square 5.254 ,P value = 0.512). Only 37.6 % of the participants mentioned that oral pathologists help to diagnose and treat any disease, 12.8% of the participants mentioned they found dental problems, 16.5% selected Diagnosis and determining the cause of the condition and 33% of the participants selected All of the above (Chi-Square 12.815,P value = 0.046).


CONCLUSION - This paper may be considered as a baseline study regarding Knowledge,Attitude,Awareness about the role of Oral pathologist among general dentists.Although general dentists were aware of oral pathology speciality, their stance of referring and consulting oral pathologists for oral pathology cases for histopathology report is poor.

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