Abstract
AB058. Knowledge/attitudes towards obstructive sleep apnea syndrome among dentists in the area of Thrace
Kanela Keramida1, Despoina Kotakidou2, Maria Kouratzi2, Athanasios Voulgaris2, Maria Xanthoudaki2, Rodopi Sotiropoulou2, Paschalis Ntolios1, Theodoros K. Konstantinidis3, Marios Froudarakis2, Paschalis Steiropoulos1,2, Evangelia Nena3
1Master Program in Sleep Medicine, Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece;2Department of Pulmonology, University General Hospital of Evros, Alexandroupolis, Greece;3Laboratory of Hygiene and Environmental Protection, Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece
Background: Aim of this study was to investigate knowledge and attitudes towards obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) among dentists in the area of Thrace, NE Greece.
Methods: Totally, 120 questionnaires were distributed including questions about demographics as well as 10 questions assessing the knowledge and experience regarding OSAS. The sum of correct answers was calculated and analyses were performed.
Results: Collected were 116 questionnaires (response rate 96.7%). Mean age of the participants was 43.4±10.3 years and mean work experience 18.2±10.1 years. A total of 36.8% reported having treated at least one patient with OSAS and only 22.8% reported that they had referred the patient to a sleep center. The majority of participants answered correctly 6–8 questions, while only 21.4% gave correct answers to 9–10 questions. A small percentage (10.4%) answered correctly on ≤4 questions. Dentists of urban areas answered correctly more questions vs. dentists of suburban/rural areas (P=0.005). No difference was observed between genders (P=0.544) or between dentists with/without specialties (P=0.414). It is worth mentioning that 22 participants (19%) admitted not knowing the existence of the CPAP device. The vast majority (89.5%) mentioned that university education should include OSAS, while 92.1% said they wish more training on OSAS.
Conclusions: The level of knowledge about OSAS varies between dentists in the area of Thrace. Additional training is certainly needed for more effective detection and treatment of patients with OSAS.
Keywords: Obstructive sleep apnea; dentists; obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS)
doi: 10.21037/atm.2016.AB058
Cite this abstract as: Keramida K, Kotakidou D, Kouratzi M, Voulgaris A, Xanthoudaki M, Sotiropoulou R, Ntolios P, Konstantinidis TK, Froudarakis M, Steiropoulos P, Nena E. Knowledge/attitudes towards obstructive sleep apnea syndrome among dentists in the area of Thrace. Ann Transl Med 2016;4(22):AB058. doi: 10.21037/atm.2016.AB058
