Disaster Management and General Dental Practitioners in India: An Overlooked Resource.
OBJECTIVE
To assess General Dental Practitioners' (GDPs) in India willingness to participate in disaster management and their previous training pertaining to disaster management, and to assess GDP objective knowledge, attitude, and behavior regarding disaster management.


METHODS
This study was a cross-sectional survey conducted on all GDPs of Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India. Willingness to participate, perceived knowledge, perceived effectiveness, objective knowledge, attitude, and behavior regarding disaster management were assessed through questionnaire method. Information also was collected regarding age, gender, religion, and residence.


RESULTS
A total of 142 out of 180 GDPs participated in the study, representing a response rate of 79%. A majority (85%) of respondents were willing to participate in disaster management. Mean score for knowledge was 12.21%, for attitude was 33.56%, for behavior was 14.50%, and for perceived effectiveness was 9.08%. Significant correlations were observed between qualification and perceived effectiveness (P=.003), and between attitude and years of practice (P=.04). Willingness to participate in disaster management and age showed significant association (P=.000).


CONCLUSIONS
High willingness and attitude to participate in disaster management was observed among respondents. Low knowledge and behavior scores were observed among GDPs.
1Department of Public Health Dentistry,Jodhpur Dental College General Hospital,Jodhpur,Rajasthan,India.
Kumar Gaurav
KG
Chhabra
2Department of Public Health Dentistry,Manipal College of Dental Sciences,Manipal University,Mangalore,Karnataka,India.
Gururaghavendran
G
Rajesh
3Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry,Jodhpur Dental College General Hospital,Jodhpur,Rajasthan,India.
Chaya
C
Chhabra
4Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology,Manipal College of Dental Sciences,Manipal University,Mangalore,Karnataka,India.
Almas
A
Binnal
1Department of Public Health Dentistry,Jodhpur Dental College General Hospital,Jodhpur,Rajasthan,India.
Ashish
A
Sharma
5Department Of Orthodontics and Dento-Facial Orthopedics,Jodhpur Dental College General Hospital,Jodhpur,Rajasthan,India.
Yashpal
Y
Pachori
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003815:Dentists / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D054597:Disaster Medicine / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004190:Disasters; D005260:Female; D058005:General Practitioners; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006295:Health Resources; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
BDS Bachelor of Dental Surgery; GDP General Dental Practitioner; General Dental Practitioners; MDS Master of Dental Surgery; disaster management; workforce planning