EVALUATION OF AWARENESS, KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE OF CLINICAL NURSES TOWARDS PRIMARY ORAL HEALTH CARE OF CHILDREN.

Abstract

Background & objectives: Most of the toddlers and early childhood children in developing and under developing countries do not visit dental clinics for oral examinations earlier than three years of age though they often visit primary health care providers for regular medical checkups. Health care providers like nurses are easily available and are in frequent contact with expecting mothers and children for routine check ups. This provides an opportunity to join in oral health promotion and care into health care. Nurses play a major as well as prominent role in providing health services, along with the general physicians. Yet, the nurses can be efficiently employed to promote oral health awareness among the community level. The oral health should have greater importance in the nurse for identification and diagnosis of dental and oral diseases. The aim of this study was to study the awareness, knowledge and attitude towards primary oral health care of children among clinical nurses. Methods: A total of 200 clinical nurses received a questionnaire that included demographic data, questions to assess the oral knowledge, oral awareness and attitude towards primary oral health care of the children. Data was collected, tabulated and statistically analysed. Results: The result showed that most nursing students (80%) are unaware about primary oral health care disease and the importance of primary teeth are also not known by both the private and government college nursing students. Interpretation & conclusion: Primary health care nurses lack knowledge and awareness in oral and dental health care. Nurses have positive attitude and willingness to obtain more information for appropriate oral health care. Training and encouragement for the nurses helps to promote oral health and prevent dental diseases in children.