Page 183 - FINAL COMPENDIUM 2020-2021 27.2.2022

KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICES ON PERIODONTAL DISEASE IN DIABETICS
AMONG MALAYSIAN PRIMARY CARE MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS

Nordin NN, Vaithilingam RD, Saub R
Introduction: Evidences in the literature have confirmed the link between periodontal
disease and diabetes mellitus. Diabetes aggravates the periodontal disease progression,
while periodontitis has a negative effect to the glycaemic control of the body. Medical
practitioners, particularly those in primary care play an important role in relaying the
important dynamics of these two diseases. Objectives: To investigate the level of
awareness, knowledge, attitude, practices and to identify the barriers of medical
practitioners in their management of diabetic patients with periodontitis in Ministry of
Health (MOH), Malaysia. Materials and methods: A self-administered questionnaire was
distributed to 549 medical practitioners of MOH’s primary care clinics in Kedah,
Terengganu, Johor and Negeri Sembilan. Statistical analyses were done using descriptive
and simple logistic analysis. Statistical significance was defined as p < 0.05. Results: The
majority of the respondents were female (75.8%), aged 40 years old below (87%). Over
three-quarter (83.2%) had less than 10 years of working experience. Almost all of the
respondents were aware of the increased risk for an uncontrolled diabetic for
periodontitis (94.3%). The level of awareness was found to be statistically significant with
age, gender and perceived oral health status (p<0.05). The knowledge items that
respondents most commonly aware of, was sign of gingivitis (99.5%). Knowledge of the
medical practitioners was found to be statistically significant with smoking status and
years of service (p<0.05). Majority of the respondents agreed that ‘they should update
their knowledge on the association between systemic disease and periodontitis’ (89.6%).
Ethnicity was the only factor that is found to be significantly associated with the attitude.
Only 34.2% of them referred their diabetic patient to the dentist. Conclusion: Awareness,
knowledge and attitude of the medical practitioners regarding periodontal disease in
diabetics of these four states were acceptable. However, the low referral pattern did not
reflect their awareness. Future health promotion effort should consider in emphasizing
on the important link of these two debilitating diseases.

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Presented at the 13 Asian Pacific Society of Periodontology, Kuala Lumpur in 2019 on 28 – 29 September 2019
Published in Malaysian Family Physician Volume 16, Number 3 (https://e-mfp.org/article/awareness-knowledge-attitudes-
and-practices-on-the-management-of-diabetes-mellitus-patients-with-periodontitis-amongst-malaysian-primary-care-
practitioners/)

Dr Norul Nurdiyana binti Nordin Prof. Roslan bin Saub
Periodontic Specialist Unit Department of Community Oral Health & Clinical
Paya Besar Dental Clinic Prevention
Kuantan, Gambang Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya
Pahang Kuala Lumpur

AP Rathna Devi A/P Vaithilingam
Department of Restorative Dentistry
Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya
Kuala Lumpur

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