Inter-professional Collaboration Between Medical and Dental Professions

Abstract

Background: Systemic conditions have numerous implications in the oral cavity, and vice versa. Therefore, medical-dental collaboration is of paramount importance for the well-being of people. Currently in Hong Kong, the attitude and awareness towards medical-dental collaboration has yet to be explored. Objectives: To investigate the current situation of medical-dental collaboration among medical and dental practitioners; to study the attitude and awareness towards medical-dental collaboration among Hong Kong medical and dental students

Methods:

This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB UW-12-161). Eighteen experienced medical and dental practitioners from public, university, and private sectors were interviewed. A questionnaire survey was conducted among medical and dental students in Hong Kong to collect demographic data and to study their attitude (with a score of 0 to 8) and awareness towards medical-dental collaboration. The surveys were distributed in halls and lecture theatres at The University of Hong Kong and The Chinese University of Hong Kong to target all medical and dental students.

Results:

All of the 18 invited practitioners accepted the interview. They considered medical-dental collaboration to be essential in their practices and beneficial to their patients. Public practitioners conveyed the existing medical-dental collaboration to be sufficient within their hospitals yet most private practitioners found it insufficient. For the medical and dental students, 1,857 questionnaires were distributed and 809 (44%) were returned. Their mean score (SD) for attitude towards medical-dental collaboration were 6.37 (1.44). Male, dental students and those with last dental check-up within a year had higher attitude score (P<0.05). Dental students and senior students (year 4 and year 5) had higher awareness (P<0.05).

Conclusions:

Medical and dental practitioners in Hong Kong suggested there is a great need for collaboration. Medical and dental students generally have positive attitudes regarding the importance of medical-dental collaboration whereas their awareness can be enhanced.