Oral health care in urban general practice: what are the support and training needs?
Thomas Fung A , Penelope Abbott A , Amit Arora A B C , Ajesh George A B D E , Amy Villarosa A D E and Jennifer Reath A F
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia.
B The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
C Sydney Local Health District and Sydney Dental Hospital, PO Box M30, Missenden Road, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia.
D South Western Sydney Local Health District, Locked Bag 7279, Liverpool BC, NSW 1871, Australia.
E Ingham Institute Applied Medical Research, Locked Bag 7103, Liverpool BC, NSW 1871, Australia.
F Corresponding author. Email: j.reath@westernsydney.edu.au
Australian Journal of Primary Health 27(4) 265-270 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY20239
Submitted: 12 October 2020 Accepted: 8 December 2020 Published: 3 March 2021
Abstract
Patients with oral health problems often attend GPs instead of dentists, particularly in rural areas. There has been little research exploring challenges in providing oral health care in urban general practice. A cross-sectional survey of GPs in Greater Western Sydney explored their experiences, knowledge, confidence, and their oral health educational needs. Descriptive statistics and content analysis was undertaken. Forty-nine GPs reported experience of a wide range of oral health presentations. Approximately 60% were confident to undertake oral health examinations and determine the cause of acute toothache. Although 87% were confident providing preventative oral health advice, most did not include this in routine health assessments. Only 41% were confident explaining eligibility for public dental services. Barriers to providing oral health care were time constraints, lack of equipment and limited oral health training. Our research highlights oral health support and training needs in urban Australian general practice, as well as the need for systems-wide change to oral health training in outer urban settings to tackle health inequity, similar to those advocated in rural Australia.
Keywords: dental, education, needs assessment, primary health care.
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