Background: Patients with uncontrolled diabetes are at an
increased risk for various oral health complications, particularly periodontal
disease. Furthermore, evidence supports a bidirectional relationship between
diabetes and periodontal disease. Dentists are well-positioned to detect
undiagnosed patients with diabetes early by recognising oral manifestations of
diabetes and referring suspected undiagnosed patients to a physician for
further diagnostic workup. With the growing prevalence of diabetes, dental
practitioners are expected to treat a higher number of diabetic patients in the
coming years.
Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the
knowledge, attitudes, and practices of dental students regarding the management
of diabetic patients.
Methodology: A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a
questionnaire among dental students at a private dental university in Morocco.
Qualitative variables were presented in terms of frequencies and percentages
and compared using a Chi-square test. A p-value of less than 0.05 was
considered statistically significant. Statistical analysis was performed using
SPSS 20.0.0 (Statistical Package for Social Science) software.
Results: A total of 268 students participated in the survey,
yielding a response rate of 83.7%. The findings revealed that 80.6% of students
recognised the importance of knowing the type of diabetes. However, only 14.2%
were aware of the risks diabetic patients face during dental treatments. For
analytical purposes, three groups corresponding to the final three years of the
6-year dental curriculum were compared. When asked about the risks associated
with diabetic patients, there was a statistically significant difference (p
< 0.001) between the three groups. Additionally, a statistically significant
difference (p < 0.001) was observed among 4th, 5th, and 6th-year students
regarding the prescription of antibiotics for endodontic procedures when HbA1c
< 7. Furthermore, a significant difference (p < 0.001) was found between
the three groups in their knowledge of antibiotics and analgesics commonly
prescribed in dentistry for diabetic patients.
Conclusion: The care of diabetic patients requires the
dentist to have perfect knowledge of the various risks to which they are
exposed. To address the knowledge gap among dental students, it is essential to
incorporate the management of diabetic patients into clinical internships.
Lastly, continuing education programs should be implemented for dentists to
enhance their understanding of diabetic patient management.
Author(s) Details
Soukaina Rouijel
International Faculty of Dental Medicine, Health Sciences Research Center
(CReSS), College of Health Sciences, International University of Rabat, Sala Al
Jadida, Morocco.
Fatima Ezzahra Zidane
International Faculty of Dental Medicine, Health Sciences Research Center
(CReSS), College of Health Sciences, International University of Rabat, Sala Al
Jadida, Morocco.
Majid Sakout
Department of Conservative Odontology, Faculty of Dentistry, Mohammed V
University in Rabat, Morocco.
Please see the book here :- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/msraa/v11/5669
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