Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Behavior of Pediatric Dental Postgraduate Students on Non-restorative Cavity Control Technique: A Cross-sectional Study

Kesavaraj Balasubramani; Sharath Asokan; Pollachi Ramakrishnan Geetha Priya

doi:10.5005/jp-journals-10005-1908

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Behavior of Pediatric Dental Postgraduate Students on Non-restorative Cavity Control Technique: A Cross-sectional Study

Int J Clin Pediatr Dent. 2021 Mar-Apr;14(2):217-221. doi: 10.5005/jp-journals-10005-1908.

Authors

Kesavaraj Balasubramani¹, Sharath Asokan¹, Pollachi Ramakrishnan Geetha Priya¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, KSR Institute of Dental Science and Research, Tiruchengode, Tamil Nadu, India.

Abstract

Background: In the last few decades, the non-restorative treatment approach had been labeled by different names. The term non-restorative cavity control (NRCC) was recently established in 2016. The study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practice behavior about this technique among pediatric dental postgraduate students in India.

Materials and methods: An 18-item questionnaire was prepared from the previously established literature. The sample size was calculated as 234 responses based on the pilot study. The questionnaires were sent to 1,200 participants through the registered email address and WhatsApp as a Google form link. The online responses were received for a period of 4 weeks from July to August of 2020. The data from the responses were collected and descriptive analysis was done using a Microsoft Excel sheet (Version 2016).

Results: A total of 380 responses were received and 35 duplicate responses were eliminated. Among the 345 respondents, 61 (17.7%) were males and 284 (82.3%) were females. The average age of the participants is 27.43 years. About 78.6% (n = 271), 17.1% (n = 59), and 4.3% (n = 15) of the participants were third-year, second-year, and first-year postgraduate students, respectively. The responses were received from 21 out of 24 states' colleges which were conducting pediatric dental postgraduate course. About 271 (76.8%) participants knew this technique with a maximum positive attitude and fewer practice behavior.

Conclusion: The knowledge and attitude about NRCC were good among the pediatric dental postgraduate students but implementing that in practice was relatively less.

How to cite this article: Balasubramani K, Asokan S, Geetha Priya PR. Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Behavior of Pediatric Dental Postgraduate Students on Non-restorative Cavity Control Technique: A Cross-sectional Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2021;14(2):217-221.

Keywords: Non-operative cavity treatment programme; Non-restorative cavity treatment; Sodium fluoride.