Knowledge and Opinions Regarding the Interface between Oral and Overall Health among California Physicians, Dentists, Pharmacists and Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Practitioners

Abstract

Background and Purpose: Oral health is often related to other medical conditions. This study investigated the knowledge and opinions of California physicians, dentists, pharmacists, and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) regarding the interface between oral and overall health and their suggestions for strengthening this interface. Methods: A survey packet was mailed to randomly-selected California healthcare providers in Winter 2015. Twenty five-point Likert-type questions were used to measure the providers’ knowledge and opinions of the oral and overall health interface. Results: Sixtytwo physicians, 117 dentists, 136 pharmacists, and 289 Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) responded (total N= 604). A majority of all health professionals agreed/strongly agreed that oral health topics received little attention in the education of non-dental health professionals (n=499, 82.6%), and that the dental discipline remains relatively segregated from other healthcare disciplines (n=500, 82.8%). Dentists and APRNs were more likely to agree/agree strongly that the inadvertent prescribing of medications that can have xerostomic effects without considering their oral health implications is a major problem. Conclusion: There is a need for more inter-professional collaboration by all primary care providers in managing the patients’ oral and overall health, as well as more oral health education and training for all non-dental health professionals.

Community pharmacists’ knowledge, attitudes and practices towards oral healthcare and its management: A systematic review

“…Cumulative data of our study results revealed that 66% of community pharmacists asserted, lack of a regular meeting with dental professionals as one of the barriers in providing oral health services. Furthermore, the lack of proper knowledge is the second most stated barrier 1‐3,6,7 . These barriers can be resolved by proper integration in the healthcare system.…”

“…Besides, remarkable efforts are required to bridge oral and general healthcare. This can be achieved through increasing awareness and knowledge of the bidirectional relationship between oral health and general health among the healthcare professionals 2 …”

“…This may help them to improve their counselling on dental products and serve the customers who look for oral health advice 25 . There is another way to improvise oral healthcare among pharmacists is by enhancing the integration of oral health into the pharmacy schools’ curriculum 2,23,32 . Interprofessional learning among students from different majors such as medical, dental and pharmacy in an integrated fashion may promote interdisciplinary collaboration and communication 33,34 .…”

“…Furthermore, the lack of proper knowledge is the second most stated barrier. [1][2][3]6,7 These barriers can be resolved by proper integration in the healthcare system.…”

“…Poor oral health has a link with other health conditions such as HIV/AIDS, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer 1‐3 . Hence, maintaining good oral health is important to avoid serious health problems.…”