title: Knowledge and reported practice of antibiotic prescription by dentists for common oral problems.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the knowledge and reported practice in relation to antibiotic prescribing regarding common oral problems by dentists in Karachi, Pakistan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three Dental Colleges of Karachi, from July to December 2010.
  
  
  METHODS
  The cross-sectional study was conducted in Karachi, Pakistan in the Outpatient Departments (OPD) of three dental colleges. Inclusion criteria were full time employed dentists working in their respective OPDs (n = 100). The dentists were asked to fill a questionnaire. The questionnaire included (i) general information, (ii) perception and knowledge of antibiotic resistance, (iii) reported management of oral problems, (iv) perceptions about oral infections and (v) perceptions of how people perceive oral problems. To assess dentists´ ability to relate knowledge to practice regarding the management of the most common oral problems, written simulated case scenarios with related questions were also included. Scores were given for each correct answer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The response rate was 85%. Of the total respondents, 65 (76%) were under the age of 30 years, 53 (62%) were males and 32 (38%) females. Out of 85 respondents 53% (n = 45) reported prescribing of antibiotics 4-5 times a week, 87% (n = 74) prescribe antibiotics based upon symptoms and 64% (n = 54) prescribed antibiotics in abscess condition. The total score for all four scenarios showed that nearly two thirds (61%) of all respondents scored sub-optimally.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A substantial number of dentists had suboptimal knowledge regarding antibiotic use. This might lead to the provision of suboptimal care of patients with dental infections. Therefore, continuing education, training and supervision are recommended to improve the quality of dental management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Ziauddin College of Dentistry, Ziauddin University, Karachi. farzeen_tanwir@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Farzeen
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tanwir
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marrone
authors.forename: Cecilia Stalsby
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Lundborg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D010154:Pakistan; D019239:Practice Patterns, Dentists' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014076:Tooth Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents