Awareness and Performance of Dentists Regarding Cardio-Vascular Diseases: A Report from Southeastern Iran

Abstract

Introduction Undoubtedly, managing patients with cardiovascular disease poses a significant challenge for dentists. It is imperative for dental practitioners to possess a comprehensive understanding and adhere to specific guidelines when treating such individuals. Objective This study aimed to assess the awareness and performance of dentists concerning cardiovascular diseases. Materials and Methods This cross-sectional, analytical study involved the participation of 150 dentists from Kerman, Iran. An online questionnaire related to questions concerning cardiovascular diseases was used for data collection. The responses were collected electronically and entered into the SPSS software for analysis. Results Findings revealed a gender distribution of 46% male and 54% female, with an average participant age of 32.57 ± 8.44 years. The overall average awareness score of the study, standing at 51.58, did not show a statistically significant difference among the groups (p-value:0.0837). Conversely, the average performance score, totaling 38.38, showed a statistically significant difference among the three groups (P-value=0.028). Female participants notably displayed a markedly higher awareness score compared to their male counterparts. Age and work experience did not demonstrate any significant relationship with the variables examined in this study. The Pearson correlation coefficient between awareness and performance scores among the examined samples stood at r=0.164, implying a positive and significant correlation (p-value=0.045). Conclusion The findings from our study suggest that the awareness and performance levels of dentists in Kerman, Iran, pertaining to cardiovascular diseases, are deemed acceptable and desirable. However, it is prudent to advocate for ongoing attention and continuous training in this domain.