Barriers to improved orofacial pain practice in Saudi Arabia [post]

2019 unpublished
Orofacial pain (OFP), an emerging field in dentistry, is associated with evaluation diagnosis, and treatment of non-odontogenic disorders affecting the mouth, jaws and face. The aim of this study was to investigate the barriers encountered by Saudi dentists engaged in OFP practice. Methods: A cross-sectional survey study was performed using a validated closed-end questionnaire that was distributed to the general dental practitioners (GDPs) and dental specialists in four major provinces in Saudi
more » ... Arabia: Riyadh, Makkah, Asir, and Eastern Province. Inclusion criteria were registration with the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties and a minimum of 2 years' experience. The collected data were analysed using descriptive parameters. Results: Three-hundred-and-forty questionnaires were completed by 168 males and 172 females. Around two-third of the participants were GDPs (60.9%), and the remainder were dental specialists. There was an obvious consensus by the participants that "Low payment/reimbursement" and "Lack of OFP knowledge" were among the most common barriers (85% and 83.5%, respectively; both P-value < 0.01). In contrast, "Legal risks" was the least frequently reported factor (38.8%; Pvalue < 0.01). The most commonly reported barrier by GPDs was "Shortage of patients/lack of demand;" this was significantly different from the experience of dental specialists (87% vs. 72.2%; P-value < 0.01). In terms of the country of graduation or years of experience, there were no significant differences Conclusion: The current study demonstrates the existence of many significant barriers other than OFP knowledge, such as reimbursement, facility, and demand that could present obstacles and challenges to the management of OFP by dentists. 3 Most participants believed that dentists should manage this condition and that OFP courses should be included in dental schools' curricula
doi:10.21203/rs.2.18887/v1 fatcat:nshaifu3ajfmvbxf6wd6zjhsge