Dentists with enhanced skills (Special Interest) in Endodontics: gatekeepers views in London

BMC Oral Health

Jennifer E. Gallagher¹  Claire Robertson⁴  Nick Kendall²  Mustafa Al-Haboubi³  Swapnil G. Ghotane¹ 

[1] King’s College London Dental Institute at Guy’s, King’s College and St Thomas’s Hospitals, Division of Population and Patient Health, Denmark Hill Campus, Bessemer Road, London SE5 9RS, UK;NHS South West London and NHS London, based at Public Health Directorate, Floor 13, Leon House, 233 High Street, Croydon CR9 1XT, UK;Faculty of Education & Health, University of Greenwich, Avery Hill Road, London SE9 2UG, UK;NHS Westminster, 15 Marylebone Road, London NW1 5JD, UK

关键词: Oral health policy;    Models of care;    Dentistry, Dentist;    General dental practices;    Endodontics;   

Others  :  1226208
DOI  :  10.1186/s12903-015-0085-8

 received in 2014-12-19, accepted in 2015-08-14,  发布年份 2015

【 摘 要 】

Background

Dentists with a special interest hold enhanced skills enabling them to treat cases of intermediate complexity. The aim of this study was to explore primary dental care practitioners’ views of dentists with a special interest (DwSIs) in Endodontics in London, with reference to an educational and service initiative established by (the former) London Deanery in conjunction with the NHS.

Methods

A cross-sectional postal survey of primary care dentists working across different models of care within London was conducted, with a target to achieve views of at least 5 % of London’s dentists. The questionnaire instrument was informed by qualitative research and the dental literature and piloted prior to distribution; data were analysed using SPSS v19 and STATA v12.0.

Results

Six per cent of London’s primary care dentists (n = 243) responded to the survey; 53 % were male. Just over one third (37 %; n = 90) were aware of the DwSI service being provided. Most practitioners reported that having access to a DwSI in Endodontics would support the care of their patients (89 %; n = 215), would carry out more endodontic treatment in the NHS primary dental care if adequately reimbursed (93 %; n = 220), and had more time (76 %; n = 180). Female respondents appeared to be less confident in doing endodontic treatment (p = 0.001). More recently qualified respondents reported greater need for training/support for performing more endodontic treatment in the NHS primary dental care (p = 0.001), were more dissatisfied with access to endodontic service in the NHS primary dental care (p = 0.007) and more interested to train as a DwSI in endodontics (p = 0.001) compared with respondents having a greater number of years of clinical experience since qualification.

Conclusion

The findings lend support to the concept of developing dentists with enhanced skills as well as ensuring additional funding, time and support to facilitate more routine endodontics through the NHS primary care to meet patient needs. More recently qualified dentists working in London were more concerned regarding endodontic service access, expressed need for training/support for undertaking more endodontic treatment in the NHS primary dental care and a desire to train as a DwSI in endodontics.

【 授权许可】

   
2015 Ghotane et al.

【 图 表 】

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