KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF PHARMACISTS REGARDING ORAL HEALTHCARE AND ORAL HYGIENE PRODUCTS IN KHARTOUM STATE, SUDAN

Ola Yasir Mahmoud and Elhadi Mohieldin Awooda*

ABSTRACT

Background: Community pharmacists can play an important role in the oral health education and can act as role model for patients, friends, families and the community at large. Also they can play a role in oral disorder prevention, identification and referral. Aim: To assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of clinical pharmacists regarding oral healthcare and oral hygiene products. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study among 323 out of 2009 pharmacists working within Khartoum State. Self-administered, close-ended questionnaire divided into 3 sections, section 1: assess their knowledge of oral health care, section 2: assess their practice of oral health education and section 3: assess their attitude toward oral hygiene products. Comparison between variables by Chi square test with the level of significant set at P <0.05. Results: The response rate was 100%. . Majority (69.7%) of the respondents had met a dentist practicing close to their pharmacies. Most of the pharmacists stocked and dispense oral health-related products. Toothpaste was the most common among the oral healthcare products stocked, followed by toothbrushes and mouth rinses. Toothache was the most common dental problem for which patients approached the pharmacists for advice followed by oral ulcer. Pharmacists advised patients complaining of dental pain to consult a dentist in 65.3% of cases, dispensed pain killer in 88.9% of cases. Conclusion: pharmacists working within Khartoum state; have a good knowledge, attitude and practice regarding oral health care and oral hygiene products. There is a need for training and providing them with access to information on available dental service and oral health products.

Keywords: oral health, oral hygiene products, pharmacists, toothache.