DENTAL PRACTITIONER’S KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES, AND PRACTICE (KAP) REGARDING CARIES PREVENTIVE MEASURES IN CAIRO COMPARED TO RIYADH (A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY)

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of dental practitioners from Cairo and Riyadh regarding caries preventive measures. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-structured online questionnaire designed using Google Forms. The questionnaire consisted of 29 questions divided into four sections: sociodemographic, knowledge assessment, attitude assessment, and practice assessment. According to the eligibility criteria, the study included 248 participants who were general dental practitioners from Egypt and Saudi Arabia. collected data were analyzed and represented as frequency (N) and percentage (%) using SPSS (Version 22.0.0). Correlations were analyzed using Spearman's rank-order correlation coefficient. Associations were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test. The significance level was set at p<0.05 for all tests. Results: A study of 249 participants aged 24-34, with a mean age of 28.47±2.04, found that most were general practitioners (88%), with most practicing in private clinics (42%). Most participants were male (61.4%), with most graduating between 2015 and 2023. The KAP assessment showed that most participants understood caries preventive measures, with 184 showing comprehension. However, 65 participants did not exhibit the same level of understanding. A significant number expressed a favorable outlook toward caries prevention methods. The study found no correlation between nationality, gender, or practice sector, but a significant correlation was found between participants' knowledge and attitude regarding caries prevention measures and their practice behavior towards these measures in children. Conclusion: These findings highlight the importance of addressing knowledge gaps and promoting evidence-based practices in pediatric dentistry.