Background
Methods
Sample and data collection
Statistical analysis
Results
Demographics
Demographics | Endocrinologists n = 23 | General health physicians n = 98 | Total n = 121 |
---|---|---|---|
Gender
| |||
Female | 15 (65.2%) | 45 (45.9%) | 60 (49.5%) |
Male | 8 (34.8%) | 53 (54.1%) | 61 (50.5%) |
Age (range in years)
| 29–62 | 34–70 | |
Years of experience since speciality degree
| 1–32 | 1–43 | |
Graduation from university in
| |||
Switzerland | 17 (73.9%) | 86 (87.8%) | 103 (85.1%) |
Other countries | 5 (21.7%) | 11 (11.2%) | 16 (13.2%) |
No answer | 1 (4.4%) | 1 (1%) | 2 (1.7%) |
Hours worked per week
| |||
12–24 | 2 (8.7%) | 22 (22.5%) | 24 (19.8%) |
25–38 | 10 (43.5%) | 34 (34.7%) | 44 (36.4%) |
> 38 | 10 (43.5%) | 41 (41.8%) | 51 (42.1%) |
No answer | 1 (4.3%) | 1 (1%) | 2 (1.7%) |
Type of practice
| |||
Hospital | 10 (43.5%) | 3 (3.1%) | 13 (10.7%) |
Private practice | 7 (30.4%) | 85 (86.7%) | 92 (76%) |
Both | 5 (21.7%) | 9 (9.2%) | 14 (11.6%) |
No answer | 1 (4.4%) | 1 (1%) | 2 (1.7%) |
Region of practice
| |||
Urban | 20 (86.9%) | 64 (65.3%) | 84 (69.4%) |
Rural | 2 (8.7%) | 34 (34.7%) | 36 (29.8%) |
No answer | 1 (4.4%) | 0 | 1 (0.8%) |
Evaluation of periodontal knowledge and link with diabetes
Questions | Endocrinologists (n = 23) | General health physicians (n = 98) |
P value
| Total (n = 121) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Definition of periodontal disease
(multiple answers)
| ||||
Inflammatory and multi-infectious process | 23 (100%) | 98 (100%) | 121 (100%) | |
Degenerative process | 3 (3%) | 8 (8.2%) | 0.436 | 11 (9%) |
Auto-immune process | 0 | 2 (2%) | 0.999 | 2 (1.6%) |
Osteoporosis | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Mono-infection | 1 (4.4%) | 0 | 0.190 | 1 (0.8%) |
Which are the main clinical signs associated with periodontal disease?
(multiple answers)
| ||||
Gingival bleeding | 22 (95.7%) | 94 (95.9%) | 0.999 | 116 (95.9%) |
Pain | 16 (69.6%) | 72(73.5%) | 0.906 | 88 (72.7%) |
Tooth mobility | 16 (69.6%) | 74 (75.5%) | 0.747 | 90 (74.4%) |
Alveolar bone destruction | 10 (43.5%) | 29 (29.6%) | 0.301 | 39 (32.2%) |
Caries | 1 (4.4%) | 12 (12.2%) | 0.458 | 13 (10.7%) |
Tooth loss | 15 (65.2%) | 57 (58.2%) | 0.701 | 72 (59.6%) |
Good periodontal health is important to overall health
| ||||
Agree | 22 (95.6%) | 97 (99%) | 0.312 | 119 (98.4%) |
Disagree | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Unsure | 0 | 1 (1%) | 1 (0.8%) | |
No answer | 1 (4.4%) | 0 | 1 (0.8%) | |
Periodontitis can negatively affect the control of glucose levels in diabetic patients
| ||||
Agree | 16 (69.6%) | 65 (66.3%) | 0.076 | 81 (66.9%) |
Disagree | 2 (8.7%) | 1 (1%) | 3 (2.5%) | |
Unsure | 5 (21.7%) | 32 (32.7%) | 37 (30.6%) | |
No answer | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Diabetics with poor metabolic control are at higher risk to develop severe periodontal disease
| ||||
Agree | 20 (86.9%) | 80 (81.6%) | 0.586 | 100 (82.6%) |
Disagree | 1 (4.4%) | 2 (2%) | 3 (2.5%) | |
Unsure | 2 (8.7%) | 16 (16.4%) | 18 (14.9%) | |
No answer | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Periodontal treatment may improve glycaemic control
| ||||
Agree | 11 (47.8%) | 45 (45.9%) | 0.928 | 56 (46.3%) |
Disagree | 1 (4.4%) | 6 (6.1%) | 7 (5.7%) | |
Unsure | 11 (47.8%) | 47 (48%) | 59 (48.8%) | |
No answer | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
It is recommended that physicians should ask their patients if they have regular dental check-ups
| ||||
Agree | 19 (82.6%) | 84 (85.7%) | 0.425 | 103 (85.1%) |
Disagree | 1 (4.4%) | 3 (3.1%) | 4 (3.3%) | |
Unsure | 3 (13%) | 9 (9.2%) | 12 (9.9%) | |
No answer | 0 | 2 (2%) | 2 (1.7%) | |
Patients with poor glycaemic control should have more frequent dental checkups and more frequent scaling
| ||||
Agree | 20 (86.9%) | 77 (78.6%) | 0.042*
| 97 (80.2%) |
Disagree | 2 (8.7%) | 2 (2%) | 4 (3.3%) | |
Unsure | 1 (4.4%) | 19 (19.4%) | 20 (16.5%) | |
No answer | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Practice behaviors
Questions | Endocrinologists (n = 23) | Genaral health physicians (n = 98) |
P value
| Total (n = 121) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Do you refer your patients to a dentist?
| ||||
Never | 1 (4.4%) | 2 (2%) | 0.552 | 3 (2.5%) |
Rarely | 7 (30.4%) | 20 (20.4%) | 27 (22.3%) | |
Sometimes | 10 (43.5%) | 40 (40.8%) | 50 (41.3%) | |
Often | 3 (13%) | 24 ( 24.5%) | 27 (22.3%) | |
Always | 2 (8.7%) | 11 (11.3%) | 13 (10.8%) | |
No answer | 0 | 1 (1%) | 1 (0.8%) | |
During your career, have you ever been approached by a dentist about one of your patients?
| ||||
Never | 14 (60.9%) | 16 (16.3%) | 0.001*
| 30 (24.8%) |
Rarely | 4 (17.4%) | 29 (29.6%) | 33 (27.3%) | |
Sometimes | 5 (21.7%) | 45 (46%) | 50 (41.3%) | |
Often | 0 | 7 (7.1%) | 7 (5.8%) | |
Always | 0 | 1 (1%) | 1 (0.8%) | |
No answer | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
During your consultation do you ask your patients questions related to oral health?
| ||||
Never | 3 (13%) | 4 (4.1%) | 0.038*
| 7 (5.8%) |
Rarely | 9 (39.2%) | 18 (18.4%) | 27 (22.3%) | |
Sometimes | 8 (34.8%) | 50 (51%) | 58 (48%) | |
Often | 3 (13%) | 15 (15.3%) | 18 (14.9%) | |
Always | 0 | 11 (11.2%) | 11 (9%) | |
No answer | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Do your patients report any pain or discomfort in the oral area during their consultation?
| ||||
Never | 2 (8.7%) | 0 | 0.004*
| 2 (1.7%) |
Rarely | 8 (34.8%) | 13 (13.3%) | 21 (17.4%) | |
Sometimes | 12 (52.1%) | 62 (63.3%) | 74 (61.1%) | |
Often | 1 (4.4%) | 19 (19.4%) | 20 (16.5%) | |
Always | 0 | 4 (4%) | 4 (3.3%) | |
No answer | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Do you ever explain to your patients the relationship between diabetes and periodontitis?
| ||||
Never | 6 (26.1%) | 24 (24.5%) | 0.029*
| 30 (24.8%) |
Rarely | 7 (30.4%) | 29 (29.6%) | 36 (29.8%) | |
Sometimes | 2 (8.7%) | 32 (32.7%) | 34 (28.1%) | |
Often | 6 (26.1%) | 10 (10.2%) | 16 (13.2%) | |
Always | 2 (8.7%) | 2 (2%) | 4 (3.3%) | |
No answer | 0 | 1 (1%) | 1 (0.8%) | |
In France, health insurance companies reimburse the cost of periodontal disease treatment in diabetics. Do you think this procedure would be beneficial in Switzerland?
| ||||
Strongly Disagree | 0 | 3 (3.1%) | 0.029*
| 3 (2.5%) |
Disagree | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Undecided | 1 (4.4%) | 16 (16.3%) | 17 (14.1%) | |
Agree | 3 (13%) | 32 (32.7%) | 35 (28.9%) | |
Strongly Agree | 19 (82.6%) | 46 (46.9%) | 65 (53.7%) | |
No answer | 0 | 1 (1%) | 1 (0.8%) | |
The management of diabetic patients would be improved if there was interdisciplinary collaboration between general practitioners or diabetologists and the dentists
| ||||
Strongly Disagree | 0 | 0 | 0.545 | 0 |
Disagree | 0 | 4 (4.1%) | 4 (3.3%) | |
Undecided | 4 (17.4%) | 18 (18.4%) | 22 (18.2%) | |
Agree | 10 (43.5%) | 51 (52%) | 61 (50.4%) | |
Strongly Agree | 9 (39.1%) | 24 (24.5%) | 33 (27.3%) | |
No answer | 0 | 1 (1%) | 1 (0.8%) |
Physicians’ education on the link between oral and systemic health
Questions | Endocrinologists (n = 23) | Genaral health physicians (n = 98) |
P value
| Total (n = 121) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Did you receive any education on oral health during your studies?
| ||||
Never | 6 (26.1%) | 28 (28.6%) | 0.965 | 34 (28.1%) |
Rarely | 14 (60.9%) | 53 (54.1%) | 67 (55.3%) | |
Sometimes | 3 (13%) | 13 (13.3%) | 16 (13.2%) | |
Often | 0 | 2 (2%) | 2 (1.7%) | |
Always | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
No answer | 0 | 2 (2%) | 2 (1.7%) | |
Were you made aware of periodontal problems in diabetic patients during your training?
| ||||
Never | 4 (17.4%) | 42 (42.9%) | 0.046*
| 46 (38%) |
Rarely | 12 (52.1%) | 40 (40.8%) | 52 (42.9%) | |
Sometimes | 6 (26.1%) | 13 (13.3%) | 19 (15.7%) | |
Often | 1 (4.4%) | 1 (1%) | 2 (1.7%) | |
Always | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
No answer | 0 | 2 (2%) | 2 (1.7%) | |
What other sources of information regarding the link between diabetes and periodontal disease have you received?
(multiple answers)
| ||||
Media | 1 (4.3%) | 9 (9.2%) | 0.685 | 10 (8.3%) |
Medical literature | 7 (30.4%) | 29 (29.6%) | 0.999 | 36 (29.8%) |
Clinical experience | 9 (39.1%) | 36 (36.7%) | 0.999 | 45 (37.2%) |
Continuing education/conferences | 7 (30.4%) | 40 (40.8%) | 0.495 | 47 (38.8%) |
None of the above | 10 (43.5%) | 35 (35.7%) | 0.650 | 45 (37.2%) |
Questions | Endocrinologists (n = 23) | Genaral health physicians (n = 98) |
P value | Total (n = 121) |
---|---|---|---|---|
It would be important to make doctors aware during their training of the relationship between diabetes mellitus and periodontal disease
| ||||
Agree | 21 (91.3%) | 93 (94.9%) | 0.426 | 114 (94.2%) |
Disagree | 0 | 1 (1%) | 1 (0.8%) | |
Unsure | 2 (8.7%) | 4 (4.1%) | 6 (5%) | |
No answer | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Doctors should be made aware of the symptoms of periodontal disease
| ||||
Agree | 21 (91.3%) | 93 (94.9%) | 0.707 | 114 (94.2%) |
Disagree | 0 | 1 (1%) | 1 (0.8%) | |
Unsure | 2 (8.7%) | 4 (4.1%) | 6 (5%) | |
No answer | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
I need more information on periodontal disease and its impact on diabetes
| ||||
Agree | 21 (91.2%) | 88 (89.8%) | 0.913 | 109 (90%) |
Disagree | 1 (4.4%) | 5 (5.1%) | 6 (5%) | |
Unsure | 1 (4.4%) | 5 (5.1%) | 6 (5%) | |
No answer | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Doctors should be trained to screen their diabetic patients for periodontal disease
| ||||
Agree | 17 (74%) | 83 (84.7%) | 0.107 | 100 (82.6%) |
Disagree | 3 (13%) | 3 (3.1%) | 6 (5%) | |
Unsure | 3 (13%) | 11 (11.2%) | 14 (11.6%) | |
No answer | 0 | 1 (1%) | 1 (0.8%) | |
I want to include oral health screening in my practice
| ||||
Agree | 18 (78.3%) | 78 (79.6%) | 0.841 | 96 (79.3%) |
Disagree | 2 (8.7%) | 5 (5.1%) | 7 (5.8%) | |
Unsure | 3 (13%) | 15 (15.3%) | 18 (14.9%) | |
No answer | 0 | 0 | 0 |