# The Knowledge, Attitude, and Perception (KAP) of Healthcare Professionals in Pediatric Settings Toward Oral Manifestations of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): A Survey-Based Cross-Sectional Study

## TL;DR

This study surveyed healthcare professionals in Italy to assess their knowledge and attitudes about oral signs of inflammatory bowel disease in children, finding gaps and a need for education.

## Contribution

The study identifies specific educational gaps and attitudes among healthcare professionals regarding pediatric IBD oral manifestations.

## Key findings

- General knowledge of IBD was high, but specific knowledge about oral manifestations was limited.
- Pediatric dentistry residents and pediatric residents outperformed general dentists in targeted knowledge items.
- Most professionals supported multidisciplinary collaboration and recognized dentists' role in early IBD detection.

## Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of Italian general dentists, pediatric dentistry residents and pediatric residents regarding IBD-related oral manifestations, in order to identify educational gaps and promote a multidisciplinary approach. Methods: A cross-sectional survey using a validated questionnaire was conducted among pediatric residents, pediatric dentistry residents and general dentists. The tool included sociodemographic questions, 30 true/false items on knowledge and 20 Likert-scale items on attitude and perception. Data were collected online and on paper and analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and ANOVA. Results: Out of 228 respondents, general knowledge of IBD was high, while specific knowledge about oral manifestations was limited. Pediatric dentistry residents and pediatric residents performed significantly better than general dentists on targeted items (p = 0.01). Attitudinal responses revealed low clinical confidence, with only a minority feeling prepared to recognize or manage oral lesions, though most were willing to pursue further education. Perception was overall positive, with strong support for multidisciplinary collaboration (96.5%), and 89.5% recognized the role of dentists in early IBD detection. General dentists more often reported the need for additional training (p = 0.02). No significant differences emerged by sex or age. Conclusions: Our study highlights significant knowledge gaps and limited clinical confidence but also reveals a strong willingness to improve and collaborate. While the number of children with IBD seen by general dentists and primary care pediatricians is limited, considering the increasing incidence of pediatric IBD, our results support the need for targeted educational interventions.