title: Bisphosphonates, healthcare professionals and oral health.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  General medical and dental practitioner and pharmacists all encounter patients on bisphosphonates and as such require adequate knowledge regarding osteonecrosis of the jaw, a potential complication associated with its use. The cross-sectional study investigated perceived implications of and attitudes towards bisphosphonate use in oral health among general medical and dental practitioners and pharmacists.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical and dental practitioners and pharmacists registered in Victoria, Australia, completed an online survey (SurveyMonkey©). Data analysis consisted of chi-square tests with significance as p < 0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and thirty six doctors (general medical practitioners, GMPs), 283 dentists (GDPs) and 26 pharmacists (PHs) participated. 70, 38 and 80%, respectively, reviewed patients prescribed bisphosphonates (BPs). GMPs (88%), GDPs (76%) and PHs (85%) were aware of osteonecrosis of the jaws (ONJ). GMPs (76%) and PHs (100%) advised patients to inform dentists. GMPs (45%) referred patients for dental assessments prior to commencing BPs with 71.9% of GDPs received such referrals. In terms of available information on oral health and BPs, GMPs (56%), GDPs (50%) and PH (53.8%) were either unsure any existed or reported receiving sufficient information.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Discrepancies exist amongst different healthcare professionals in terms of BP use and oral health, and common consensus guidelines are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Dasera V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Raj
authors.affiliation: Melbourne Dental School, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: Menaka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abuzar
authors.affiliation: Melbourne Dental School, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: Gelsomina L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Borromeo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001315:Australia; D059266:Bisphosphonate-Associated Osteonecrosis of the Jaw / Q000517:prevention & control; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D003815:Dentists / Q000523:psychology; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004497:Education, Dental; D005260:Female; D058005:General Practitioners / Q000523:psychology; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009909:Oral Health; D010020:Osteonecrosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000523:psychology; D019239:Practice Patterns, Dentists'; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D004164:Diphosphonates
keywords: bisphosphonates; clinical guidelines; drug therapy; oral health; osteonecrosis.