Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Pesquisa Brasileira em Odontopediatria e Clinica Integrada, cilt.26, 2026 (ESCI, Scopus)
Objective: To assess Turkish pediatricians' knowledge, perceptions, and educational levels regarding oral and dental health, particularly in light of the high prevalence of dental caries among children. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study involved 323 practicing Turkish pediatricians utilizing Google Forms for data collection between December 2021 and November 2023. A structured questionnaire examined sociodemographic and clinical characteristics and employed scales to evaluate pediatricians' knowledge, attitudes, and self-perceptions concerning childhood oral health. Results: The study included 323 pediatrician participants, with a mean age of 37.15 ± 7.92 years, with a majority being female (65%). Academic staff demonstrated superior knowledge, positive attitudes, and higher self-perception scores than research assistants and specialists. Significant correlations were observed between age and years of service with attitudes and self-perceptions, while knowledge scores showed no such correlations. Pediatricians without formal dental education exhibited lower attitude and self-perception scores related to oral health. Conclusion: The study emphasizes the critical need for targeted education to enhance Turkish pediatricians' grasp of oral health. Strengthening their knowledge and attitudes is essential to advancing dental care, improving children's outcomes, and addressing dental caries effectively.