Table
3: Physicians’
Opinions on Oral Health in Relation to Medication Prescribing Practice
Item (n = 62) |
Mean (SD) |
Disagree/Strongly disagree N (%) |
Neutral N (%) |
Agree/ Strongly Agree N (%) |
a. Dentists rarely consider the medical
ramifications of the oral health care they provide. |
2.77 (0.9) |
25 (40.3) |
24 (38.7) |
13 (21.0) |
b. Many medications are prescribed by
physicians without consideration of their oral health ramifications. |
3.61 (0.9) |
8 (12.9) |
16 (25.8) |
38 (61.3) |
c. The drug labels of most drugs that
can have xerostomic (dry mouth) effects do not contain information on their
potential impacts on oral health. |
3.60 (0.9) |
7 (11.3) |
18 (29.0) |
37 (59.7) |
d. The inadvertent prescribing of
medicines that can have xerostomic effects without considering oral health
implications is a major problem. |
3.34 (0.9) |
10 (16.1) |
23 (37.1) |
29 (46.8) |
e. Patients taking medicines that can
have xerostomic effects are adequately informed about the importance of
maintaining dental health while taking the medications. |
2.34 (0.8) |
36 (58.1) |
23 (37.1) |
3 (4.8) |
f. Physicians prescribing
immunosuppressive and cytotoxic pharmaceuticals infrequently inquire about a
patient’s oral status. |
3.34 (0.8) |
7 (11.3) |
30 (48.4) |
25 (40.4) |
g. Physicians prescribing immunosuppressive
and cytotoxic pharmaceuticals rarely advise patients about the importance of
maintaining dental health while taking the medications. (n = 61) |
3.30 (0.8) |
7 (11.5) |
33 (54.1) |
21 (34.4) |
h. Pharmacists are a great source to my
patients for advice on drugs with oral health untoward effects. |
3.48 (1.0) |
10 (16.1) |
21 (33.9) |
31 (50.0) |