ORAL HYGIENE KNOWLEDGE, PRACTICES AND DENTAL SERVICES UTILIZATION PATTERN OF HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IN LAGOS. Lasu-jds;1(1):22 – 25

Abstract

Objective: Health professionals are an invaluable group of workers that can potentially promote oral health but there is however, scarcity of information on the knowledge and awareness of health professionals in Nigeria. The present study aimed to determine the knowledge and practices of oral hygiene as well as dental services utilization of health professionals in Lagos State.

Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive study conducted on a cross-section of health professionals (Medical doctors, nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists, dentists and dental technicians etc.) in LASUTH and General Hospitals in Lagos and Randle. A validated Self-administered questionnaires were used to obtain the participants’ bio data, questions assessing knowledge and practices of oral hygiene, as well their utilization of dental services. The data analysis was done with SPSS version 21 and p-values <0.05 were taken as significant.

Results: A total of 304 questionnaires were returned filled. Majority 205(67.4%) of participants utilize toothbrush and paste to clean their teeth and 225(74.0%). mainly once daily.  Only 70(23.1%) of participants’ floss regularly. Most 210(69.1%) of the participants had visited the dentist before and mainly 67(22.0%). for scaling and polishing.  A significant proportion of the participants 66(21.7%) felt no need for a dental visit. Only one hundred and forty-six 146 (48.0%) participants had good oral hygiene knowledge which was significantly higher among the medical cadres (p< 0.005)

Conclusion: The knowledge, attitude and practice of oral hygiene among this group was limited and there is a need to update their knowledge through the inclusion of dental modules in the training of health workers as well as an increase in the dental component of the continuing medical education program of the hospital.