title: Elementary school staff knowledge and attitude with regard to first-aid management of dental trauma in Iran: a basic premise for developing future intervention.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate Iranian teachers' knowledge and attitude with regard to emergency management of dental trauma.
  
  
  METHODS
  A four-part questionnaire, including demographic data, knowledge, attitude, and self-assessment, was given to 422 teachers from 14 schools. Data obtained from 400 completed questionnaires were statistically analyzed using t-test, one-way anova and Pearson correlation coefficient.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It was found that there was no statistically significant difference between knowledge and demographic variations (P > 0.05). However, there was a moderate positive association between knowledge and attitude toward emergency management of dental trauma (r = 0.38, P = 0.0001). The outcome indicated completely inadequate knowledge regarding the management of tooth fracture and avulsion. Most participants (94.3%) were unsatisfied with their awareness and suggested that further education on the topic should be offered.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study revealed considerably low knowledge of the participants regarding the first-aid management of dental trauma for the study group. As teachers get an opportunity to attend a case of dental trauma, strategies to improve the teachers' knowledge seem crucial.
authors.affiliation: Oral and Dental Diseases Research Center/Department of Endodontics, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran. maryam.raoof@gmail.com
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Raoof
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zaherara
authors.forename: Noushin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shokouhinejad
authors.forename: Sakineh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mohammadalizadeh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005178:Faculty; D005260:Female; D005392:First Aid; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012574:Schools; D057566:Self Report; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D018677:Tooth Injuries / Q000628:therapy*