Questionnaire-Based Assessment of Patients’ Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices Regarding Restorative and Endodontic Treatment at a Multi-disciplinary Tertiary Care Hospital of Jharkhand, India

TL;DR

This study assesses patients' knowledge and attitudes about dental treatments like root canals and fillings in a hospital in India.

Contribution

The study provides insights into patient perceptions of restorative and endodontic treatments in a rural Indian setting.

Findings

85% of participants had prior knowledge about root canal treatment and fillings.

68.5% of participants had undergone root canal treatment.

66% of participants felt anxious during anesthetic administration.

Abstract

Background: The majority of Indians living in smaller cities and villages don't know much about oral health and how to address it. Thus, this research seeks to assess the endodontic and restorative treatment knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and perceptions of patients who visit the Dental Institute at the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences in Ranchi.

Methods: This study was conducted on 771 subjects over 2 months at the outpatient department (OPD) of the dental institute, using a prefabricated questionnaire. The participants were divided into three groups based on age. A modified questionnaire consisting of 20 questions obtained from previous studies was provided to the subjects. The first part of the questionnaire was related to demographic details while the second part comprised questions regarding the knowledge of the participants. The third part emphasized on attitude aspect while the last part comprised practice questions.

Results: It was observed that 682 (85%) of the participants had prior information about root canal treatment (RCT) and filling and 555 (72%) thought it to be an alternative to extraction. While 528 (68.5%) participants stated about undergoing RCT, 679 (88%) subjects propagated their recommendation to family and friends. Five hundred thirteen (66%) subjects highlighted anxiety during anesthetic administration.

Conclusion: With increasing awareness and information, traditional extraction has given way to the recognition that RCT and filling can salvage a tooth. Patient acceptance of RCT and filling as treatment alternatives may be enhanced by healthcare education and mass activities.