Assessment of knowledge toward periodontal disease among a sample of nephrologists and nurses who work with chronic kidney disease not yet on dialysis.

Introduction: Recent studies have identified periodontal disease (PD) as a risk factor for chronic kidney disease (CKD). The aim of this study was to assess the general knowledge about, attitudes toward, and behaviors/practices concerning PD among physicians and nurses who work with CKD patients.

Methods: An 8-question questionnaire was distributed to participants of the XXV Brazilian Congress of Nephrology (2010) and the Minas Gerais Nephrology Congress (2011). The questions covered the following aspects of PD: epidemiology, clinical presentation, predisposing factors, systemic expression, inclusion of oral examination during routine physical examination, and the frequency of referral for dental treatment.

Results: Most physicians and nurses interviewed correctly answered the questions on general knowledge about PD. 42.2% of the physicians and 38% of the nurses did not routinely examine the oral cavity of their patients. Most patients seen by nephrologists (59.4%) and nurses (61.5%) were referred to dental care in less than 30% of the consultations.

Conclusion: Nephrologists and nurses demonstrated good self-reported general knowledge about PD, albeit with limited clinical experience, as evidenced by the low rates of examination of the oral cavity and referral for specialist treatment. These findings suggest the need of theoretical and practical training in oral health at both, undergraduate (medicine and nursing) and postgraduate levels (medical and multiprofessional residency programs).