Knowledge, perceptions, and behavior regarding children’s oral health among Syrian pediatricians: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Oral health has a direct impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Hence, general health and oral health cannot be separated. Pediatricians play a pivotal role in providing primary care for infants and are the first to interact with them since birth. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge, perceptions, and behavior of Syrian pediatricians regarding children’s oral health. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study. The questionnaire consisted of six main sections and required answers regarding demographic characteristics, knowledge, behavior, perceptions, and training received in oral health. The association between categorical variables was tested with Pearson’s chi-square tests and Fishers exact tests using SPSS ver. 23. RESULTS: The response rate was 43.12% (229/531). Most of the participants (64.02%) got a poor level of knowledge and no significant association was found between knowledge level and years of experience (p = 0.270). The majority of the participants (99.13%) perceived that diet, bacteria, and sugar exposure time are the etiological factors of dental caries. The overwhelming majority of the participants (98.25%) acknowledged the need for further oral health training during residency. CONCLUSIONS: Most pediatricians reported a poor level of knowledge. It is recommended to update the postgraduate and residency curriculum to equip pediatricians with adequate knowledge regarding children’s oral health.