title: Assessment of knowledge toward periodontal disease among a sample of nephrologists and nurses who work with chronic kidney disease not yet on dialysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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).
authors.affiliation: Núcleo Interdisciplinar de Estudos, Pesquisas e Tratamento em Nefrologia, Brazil. jessicabastos7@gmail.com
authors.forename: Jessica do Amaral
authors.initials: Jdo A
authors.lastname: Bastos
authors.forename: Eduardo Machado
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Vilela
authors.forename: Mirelle Nery
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Henrique
authors.forename: Patrícia de Castro
authors.initials: Pde C
authors.lastname: Daibert
authors.forename: Ludmila Féo Machado de Carvalho
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: Diana Albuquerque Alvim de
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Paula
authors.forename: Maria das Graças Afonso Miranda
authors.initials: Md
authors.lastname: Chaves
authors.forename: Marcus Gomes
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Bastos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases; D009398:Nephrology; D009726:Nurses; D009729:Nursing; D010510:Periodontal Diseases; D010820:Physicians; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires