Page 61 - FINAL COMPENDIUM 2020-2021 27.2.2022

MEDICAL NURSES’ ORAL HEALTH KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE, PRACTICE AND AWARENESS
ON PREGNANT MOTHERS: AN OPPORTUNITY FOR INTERPROFESSIONAL
COLLABORATION
NMRR-19-2031-49272

Lee CS, Ong YW, Siti Nurfatin R, Nurul Ashikin H
Objective: This study was conducted to assess the level of knowledge, attitude, practice
(KAP) and awareness of medical nurses towards the importance of dental referral
practices of a pregnant mother to a dentist. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-
sectional study conducted in the district of Melaka Tengah, Melaka (Malaysia), with 357
medical nurses as respondents. Data was collected using an adopted self-administered
questionnaire. Results: Majority (89.4%) of nurses displayed high-level KAP and
awareness. However, almost half (40.3%) of the nurses considered periodic scaling to
cause adverse effects on oral tissue during pregnancy. 69.7% were conscious that poor
oral health is one of the causes of preterm labour and low birth weight. About 1.4% of the
nurses would advise patients to delay their dental visits until delivery. Such
misconceptions should be clarified to stop compromising the quality of dental care due to
unnecessary fears developed among patients. Conclusion: Medical Nurses in the district
of Melaka Tengah showed good KAP following attendance at organised Jururawat
Kesihatan Jururawat Masyarakat (JKJM) programme. Despite certain misconceptions
about oral health during pregnancy, most medical nurses have good awareness in
referring their antenatal patients for dental check-ups. Persistent JKJM programme still
needs to be continued to keep them updated, as well as reinforce interprofessional
collaboration.

Keyword: KAP, Awareness, Medical nurses, Oral health, Pregnancy

Published in Journal of Health Management, Institute of health (JoHM, IHM), No1/2021, ISSN1823-5735
Poster Presentation at the 28 Malaysia Dental Association (MDA) Scientific Convention & Trade Exhibition (SCATE) 2021 -
th
The Digital Edition on 28 February 2021
Dr Lee Chew Sze
Dr Ong Yi Wei
Dr Siti Nurfatin binti Razif
Melaka Tengah Dental Clinic
Melaka

Dr Nurul Ashikin binti Husin
District Dental Health Office
Melaka Tengah
Melaka

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