Perceptions of Oral Health Training and Attitudes Toward Performing Oral Health Screenings Among Graduating Pediatric Residents

• Published in: Pediatrics (Evanston) 2008-08, Vol.122 (2), p.e465-e471
• Main Authors: Caspary, Gretchen, Krol, David M, Boulter, Suzanne, Keels, Martha Ann, Romano-Clarke, Giusy
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Analysis of Variance; Attitude of Health Personnel; Clinical Competence; Curriculum; Dental care; Dental Caries - prevention & control; Dental health; Education, Medical, Graduate - methods; Family physicians; Female; Humans; Internship and Residency; Linear Models; Male; Mass Screening - standards; Mass Screening - statistics & numerical data; Medical screening; Oral Health; Pediatrics; Pediatrics - education; Physician's Role; Preventive Dentistry; Probability; Studies; Surveys and Questionnaires; United States
• ISSN: 0031-4005; 1098-4275
• DOI: 10.1542/peds.2007-3160

There is a lack of access to oral health services for American children. Some propose that pediatricians be trained to deliver preventive screening and education to families until they access a dental home. However, little is known about the current oral health training provided during pediatric residency. OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the oral health training that pediatricians receive during residency and their attitudes toward performing basic oral health screenings. The American Academy of Pediatrics Survey of Graduating Residents is an annual, randomly sampled national survey of graduating pediatric residents. The 2006 Survey of Graduating Residents surveyed 611 residents and examined their perception of their oral health training and their attitudes about performing oral health screenings. Thirty-five percent of residents received no oral health training during residency. Of those who did, 73% had or=3 hours of oral health training, who applied for jobs in the inner city, and whose career goal was to work in primary practice are those most likely to support this idea. Pediatric residents currently receive little training in oral health, and the majority wish for more. This study shows that oral health training during residency can increase pediatrician confidence in participating in important oral health promotion tasks, including anticipatory guidance, oral screenings, and oral health-risk assessment.