| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2015 | Volume
: 5
| Issue : 7 | Page : 20-24 |
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Perception of health care providers toward geriatric oral health in Belgaum district: A cross-sectional study
Nishant Mehta1, Ladusingh Rajpurohit1, Anil Ankola1, Mamata Hebbal1, Priyanka Setia2
1 Department of Public Health Dentistry, Karnataka Lingayat Educational Society Vishwanath Katti Institute of Dental Sciences, Belgaum, Karnataka, India
2 Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Punjab Government Dental College and Hospital, Amritsar, Punjab, India
Correspondence Address:
Dr. Nishant Mehta
Department of Public Health Dentistry, KLE Vishwanath Katti Institute of Dental Sciences, Nehru Nagar, Belgaum - 590 010, Karnataka
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/2231-0762.156154
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Objectives: To access knowledge and practices related to the oral health of geriatrics among the health care providers practicing in urban and rural areas. Background: Older adults have identified a number of barriers that contribute to lack of dental service use. However, barriers that clinicians encounter in providing dental treatment to older adults are not as clear-cut. Materials and Methods: 236 health professionals (of allopathy, ayurveda, and homeopathy) from urban and rural areas were assessed by means of structured questionnaire related to oral health practices and beliefs. Results: Doctors practicing in urban areas assessed dental care needs more frequently (P = 0.038) and performed greater practices related to oral health of geriatrics (P = 0.043) than the doctors practicing in primary health care (PHC) centers (rural) (P = 0.038). Conclusion: Owing to the relative lack of knowledge among rural practitioners, there is a need to integrate primary health care with oral care in rural areas. |
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