親が小児歯科医を選ぶ際の決断に影響を与える要因

Factors Influencing Parents' Decision in Choosing a Pediatric Dentist.

抄録

はじめに 小児歯科医は子どもの歯の健康をサポートすると同時に、保護者に健康教育や情報を提供します。親は子どもの口腔保健の保護者であり、口腔保健に関する知識、信念、態度は、直接的または間接的に幼児期の口腔保健に影響を及ぼす可能性があるからである。この研究の目的は、親が子供のために小児歯科医を選ぶ際にどのような要素を好むかを調べること、症状のある乳歯の管理に対する親の態度を評価すること、乳歯の重要性に対する親の理解を分析すること、子供に関する親の知識と認識を評価することである。方法 Sharad Pawar Dental College and Hospitalで実施された横断研究で、歯科治療のために子供と一緒に来た親に20の質問を投げかけた。質問は、知識ベースの評価尺度と知覚ベースの評価尺度の2つに分けられた。質問は、歯科治療に関する両親の知識、彼らの知覚、彼らの子供のために小児歯科医を選択する際の意思決定に対する彼らの態度を評価するために策定された。14歳以下の子供を持つ300人の親を無作為に選び、すべての親に事前に十分な説明を行い、質問を進める前に書面による同意を得た。質問はすべて、保護者が理解しやすい母国語で行われた。結果 子どもの口腔の健康と歯科治療に対する親の知識と認識を評価することで、親が子どものために小児歯科医を選ぶ際、どのような点を重視するかを明らかにすることができた。本研究の結果、保護者は子どもの口腔衛生問題の原因、治療、予防、結果について限られた知識しか持っていないことがわかった。多くの親は口腔の健康問題を軽視しており、正しい知識を持っていない。結論 したがって、本研究は、子どもの口腔保健に対する親の知識と認識を評価するものである。本研究は、保護者の口腔保健に対する認識を高め、利用可能な治療法、過失の結果、将来の問題について保護者に伝え、意思決定を支援することが極めて重要であると結論づけた。

Introduction Pediatric dentists support children's dental health while also providing parents with health education and information. Parents are guardians of their children's oral health, as their knowledge, beliefs, also attitude about oral health can influence early childhood oral health directly or indirectly. Recognizing parenting practices on early childhood oral health is essential for developing effective prevention and treatment strategies for the child, because parents' health attitudes, behavior, and their children's dental health are usually influenced directly or indirectly by their practice. Objectives of this study were to find out what factors parents prefer while choosing a pediatric dentist for their kids, to assess parent attitudes towards management of a symptomatic primary tooth, to analyze parental understanding of the importance of deciduous teeth, and to assess parent knowledge and perception regarding their child. Methodology A cross-sectional study conducted at Sharad Pawar Dental College and Hospital was done, where 20 questions were posed to the parents who came with their children for dental treatment. Questions were divided into two parts, knowledge-based assessment scale and perception-based assessment scale. The questions were formulated to assess the knowledge of parents regarding dental care, their perception, and their attitude toward the decision-making while selecting a pediatric dentist for their kids. The questions also included information about the child's habits and associated problems with it. Three hundred parents of children under 14 years of age were chosen randomly where all parents were adequately informed beforehand, and their written consent was taken before proceeding with the questions. All the questions were formulated in the native language that they could easily understand. A convenient method was applied as per the respondent from an offline questionnaire survey.  Results By evaluating the parental knowledge as well as perception towards children's oral health and dental treatment we are able to determine which aspects parents prefer while selecting a pediatric dentist for their child. The study found that parents had limited knowledge about the causes, treatment, prevention, and consequences of oral health problems in children. Many parents neglect oral health problems and lack correct knowledge. Conclusion  Hence this study assesses the parental knowledge as well as perception towards children's oral health. This study concludes that it is crucial to raise awareness about oral health among parents and inform them about available treatments, consequences of negligence and future problems to aid them in decision-making.