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.