Are diabetes and dental care providers in the Republic of Mauritius advising patients about the importance of oral health in diabetes management?

Abstract

Diabetes and dental care providers may greatly contribute in the early detection of oral diseases and diabetes, respectively, and in the prevention of complications of diabetes. However, there is limited collaboration and referrals between these two groups of health professionals. Objective To investigate whether diabetic providers are addressing the importance of oral care in the management of diabetes and whether dental care providers are advising their patients with diabetes about the importance of glycaemic control. Method Descriptive statistics was used to report data collected from 720 patients with diabetes using a closed‐end questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis revealed the factors significantly impacting whether participants received advice from healthcare providers. Results The majority of participants did not receive advice from either diabetes (84%) or dental (75%) care providers regarding the reciprocal nature of diabetes and periodontitis. The factors significantly affecting receiving advice from diabetes care providers were place of residence (p = 0.003), self‐reported type of diabetes (p = 0.000) receiving advice from dental care providers (p = 0.000); from dental care providers – education (p = 0.020), place of residence (p = 0.004), the number of years since diagnosis of diabetes (p = 0.002), frequency of dental visits (p = 0.000) and receiving advice from diabetes care providers (p = 0.000). Conclusion Diabetes and dental care providers in Mauritius are not addressing oral health care as an essential component of diabetes care. Patients with diabetes are neither being advised about the importance of regular dental visits by their treating doctor, nor about the importance of glycaemic control in the prevention of oral complications by their dentist.

Dental referrals for patients with diabetes: survey of barriers and enablers for medical and health professionals

“…Multiple studies have shown that patients with diabetes are more likely to receive education about the relationship between oral health and diabetes from their dental providers than from their medical provider. 32 All health professionals working in the hospital inpatient setting reported online referral pathways would increase the likelihood of referring a patient to the dentist. This reflects the established digital interdepartmental referral pathway used by hospital staff.…”

“…Referral of patients with diabetes to a dental clinic gives rise to treatment and clinical intervention opportunities, and for the dental team to educate the patient in preventative practices. Multiple studies have shown that patients with diabetes are more likely to receive education about the relationship between oral health and diabetes from their dental providers than from their medical provider 32 …”

“…Lack of knowledge and confidence on the topic of oral health have been reported as a main barrier for medical practitioners to discuss oral health with their patients with diabetes 32 —even for practitioners who are aware of the relationship between the two conditions. In fact, understanding the relationship between oral health and diabetes does not significantly increase the likelihood of doctors referring patients with diabetes to the dentist 25 .…”

Needs Assessment Towards Development of an Integrated Diabetes-Oral Health Nutrition Education Module: A Qualitative Study

“…They also supported their health and medical counterparts to refer patients for dental check-up and treatment for the prevention of oral diseases. In addition, the patients must be informed through consistent messages by all members of the healthcare professional team regarding the equally crucial role of disease management for both diseases [ 22 56 ] as they could affect one another as a result of the up-regulated inflammation from each disease.…”

“…of the healthcare professional team regarding the equally crucial role of disease management for both diseases [22,56] as they could affect one another as a result of the upregulated inflammation from each disease. The emergence of non-evidence-based remedies and uncertified products easily available in the market has posed a challenge for the delivery of conventional treatment prescribed by healthcare professionals [50,57].…”