Indonesian dentists' views on providing oral health care for older adults

BACKGROUND: With demographic changes in aging populations, dentists require special care protocols to treat older adults with diverse and complex oral health needs and problems. Knowledge, positive attitudes, and sufficient practice experience are essential components for promptly treating older adults. However, many dentists encounter multiple barriers influencing their willingness to provide care for older adults. This study assessed Indonesian dentists' knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) in providing oral health care (OHC) for older adults, including their willingness and barriers.

METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 392 dentists employing an online questionnaire between April and June 2022. The respondents' KAP was categorised utilising a modified Blooms' cut-off point of ≥60%. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, the x2 test, and logistic regression.

RESULTS: Most dentists demonstrated adequate knowledge (62.2%), a positive attitude (95.4%), sufficient practice experience (91.6%), and a high willingness (98%) to provide OHC services for older adults. However, 91.4% encountered barriers primarily related to interpersonal communication, disease complexity and polypharmacy, and patient functional status. Significant associations were found between dentists' attitudes toward practices and willingness to attend geriatric dentistry training with knowledge.

CONCLUSION: Implementation of continuing professional development (CPD) in geriatric dentistry, the inclusion of geriatric dentistry into the undergraduate curriculum, and enhancing clinic accessibility for older adults may improve dentists' preparedness and benefit the future provision of OHC for older adults in Indonesia.