Level of awareness of dentists about the role of physiotherapy in temporomandibular disorders: a pilot study in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| Title: | Level of awareness of dentists about the role of physiotherapy in temporomandibular disorders: a pilot study in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |
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| Authors: | Afaf A. M. Shaheen, Hajar Alhajri, Noura Alrajeeb, Ruba Almoammar, Arwa Alyousef, Syamala Buragadda, Ganeswararao Melam |
| Source: | Bulletin of Faculty of Physical Therapy, Vol 25, Iss 1, Pp 1-7 (2020) |
| Publisher Information: | SpringerOpen, 2020. |
| Publication Year: | 2020 |
| Collection: | LCC:Miscellaneous systems and treatments |
| Subject Terms: | Awareness, Dentists, Temporomandibular joint disorders, Physiotherapy role, Miscellaneous systems and treatments, RZ409.7-999 |
| More Details: | Abstract Background Physiotherapy (PT) is a distinguished developing profession. It has a crucial role in treating temporomandibular disorders (TMD) as an effective intervention to reduce pain and improve TMD symptoms. Not all dentists are aware of the importance of collaboration with physiotherapists (PTs).Therefore, this study aimed to assess the level of dentists’ awareness about the role of PT in treating TMD, identify dentists’ willingness to collaborate with PTs, and create collaboration awareness. This cross-sectional study included Saudi dentists in Riyadh. An online survey was used to assess dentist’s awareness and their readiness to collaborate with PTs. Results Out of 1500 dentists, only 162 participated in the survey. About 46.9% of dentists were aware that PT can treat TMD. Generally, there was lack of awareness about the benefits of PT among dentists (61.8%), and 59.9% was not aware that the evidence suggested that PT can improve TMD symptoms. Only 29% referred patients to PT. Upon the completion of the survey, almost all dentists (97.5%) were likely to refer patients with TMD to PT, and 90.7% of them showed interest to learn more about collaborating with PTs. Conclusion The study concluded that, although 46.9% of the dentists are aware about the role of PT in treating TMD, there is a lack of awareness about the benefits of PT among the majority of them. The study helped to extend the awareness of surveyed dentists about the collaboration and multidisciplinary approach. |
| Document Type: | article |
| File Description: | electronic resource |
| Language: | English |
| ISSN: | 1110-6611 2536-9660 |
| Relation: | https://doaj.org/toc/1110-6611; https://doaj.org/toc/2536-9660 |
| DOI: | 10.1186/s43161-020-00009-5 |
| Access URL: | https://doaj.org/article/0b74d3fdbab34d92b48fa1580516afe5 |
| Accession Number: | edsdoj.0b74d3fdbab34d92b48fa1580516afe5 |
| Database: | Directory of Open Access Journals |
| ISSN: | 11106611 25369660 |
|---|---|
| DOI: | 10.1186/s43161-020-00009-5 |
| Published in: | Bulletin of Faculty of Physical Therapy |
| Language: | English |