Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude, Practices, and willingness to provide oral health care among oncology departments' staff in the West Bank Area رسالة ماجستير

Abstract

Introduction As the prevalence of cancer cases is increasing in Palestine, and the treatment of cancer affects oral health resulting in severe oral complications, good oral care is critical for preventing and minimizing oral complications through cancer therapy. The study aims to assess knowledge, attitude, practices, and willingness of health care providers about oral health care (before, during, and after) cancer therapy. Materials and Methods This study was a descriptive cross-sectional study using self-administered closed-end questionnaires among 166 health care providers in the oncology department. Data was collected from seven Palestinian hospitals that provide services to cancer patients in West Bank between 15 April to 30 June 2021, and the response percentage was (90.9%). The questionnaire was designed using many previous studies and published articles. The validity of the questionnaire was checked by presenting it to academic supervisors and specialists in the field of the study. The data analysis was performed by using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 20. Frequencies and percentages were calculated for all variables. To test the hypothesis, a One Way ANOVA Test was conducted to check the differences between groups. Post Hoc (Tukey's test) was conducted to find the source of difference 2 between groups, and Independent Sample T-test was conducted to check the differences between groups for nominal variables. Results The number of respondents to the questionnaire was 151 with a response rate of (90.9%). Males represented (51%) of the sample whereas females represented (49%). The age of most respondents (41.7%) was between 40-49 years. In regard to their academic qualifications, (58.9%) of respondents had a Bachelor degree. The sample consisted of (50.3 %), nurses, (15.9%) resident doctors, (11.3%) medical oncologists and radiotherapy technicians, (6.6%) hematologists, (3.3%) oral and maxillofacial surgeons, and (1.3%) radiation oncologists. Most health care providers had a good knowledge level (55.6%) regarding oral health care and oral complications. Also, most of them had fair attitude level (60.3%) and (44.4%) had fair practice level regarding the oral health and cancer therapy course. Also 60.3% of participants had good willingness to get more information about oral health during cancer therapy, provide oral health instructions for cancer patients and follow oral health care protocols during cancer therapy. According to our study’s results significant relation was found between knowledge score and age of participants, and between education level and position of staff in the hospital with P=.001. Also, the knowledge score was significantly associated with the position in the department (P=.028). However, no statistical significant associations were found between attitude score and demographic feature and working experience. Regarding practice score and gender there was a statistically significant association between them P=0.04. In addition, 3 education level was associated significantly with practice score P= 0.002, moreover the practice was significantly associated with the employment status and position in the department (P=.046, P=.026 respectively). Willingness was also influenced significantly with employment status P=.052. Finally, our study showed a strong positive relationship between knowledge & practices, knowledge & willingness, and practices & willingness. Conclusion Oral health care must be integrated with the cancer treatment plan and provided by knowledgeable and professional health care providers, to minimize patients suffering during cancer treatment, therefore educational programs, and training courses addressing oral healthcare for cancer patients are required, to improve knowledge among oncology professionals to provide comprehensive patient care