Journal article
US pediatric dentists' counseling practices in addressing childhood obesity
Pediatric dentistry, Vol.34(3), pp.245-250
05/2012
PMID: 22795160
Abstract
Pediatric dentists could be in an excellent position to identify and intervene early for children at high risk for overweight or obesity; however, current practices and attitudes are uncertain. This study's purpose was to explore the practices and attitudes of pediatric dentists regarding weight-and caries-related counseling.
Data were analyzed from 1,779 pediatric dentists responding to a 2008-09 survey of 4,154 randomly selected pediatric and 3,846 general dentists. Data were weighted to account for unequal probability of selection and nonresponse rates among regions and dentist types.
Sixty-five percent of respondents reported increased proportions of overweight/obese pediatric patients since they began practice, and approximately 9% offered weight-related counseling. By contrast, approximately 80% provided caries-related counseling. Major barriers to providing weight-related counseling included fears of offending parents/patients (~54%) and appearing judgmental (~53%), lack of patient acceptance of weight-loss advice from dentists (~47%), not enough trained personnel to provide counseling (~43%), and insufficient time (~28%). Multivariable predictors of providing weight-related counseling included female sex, Hispanic ethnicity, nongroup practice setting, practice ownership, and dentist self-reported normal- or underweight status.
Primary barriers to weight-related counseling cited by pediatric dentists reflect concerns about offending patients and caregivers. Training and counseling addressing these concerns may help boost counseling rates.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- US pediatric dentists' counseling practices in addressing childhood obesity
- Creators
- Jessica Y Lee - University of North Carolina at Chapel HillDaniel J CaplanZiya GizliceAlice AmmermanRobert AgansAlice E Curran
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Pediatric dentistry, Vol.34(3), pp.245-250
- PMID
- 22795160
- NLM abbreviation
- Pediatr Dent
- ISSN
- 0164-1263
- eISSN
- 1942-5473
- Publisher
- American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
- Grant note
- 1R21DE017636-01A2 / NIDCR NIH HHS
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 05/2012
- Academic Unit
- Preventive and Community Dentistry
- Record Identifier
- 9984367616902771
Metrics
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