Dentists' Attitudes Towards Pharmacological Management of Acute Pain in Children and Adolescents - a Follow-up Survey

This survey study is follow-up to a survey carried out in 2014, addressed to Swedish General Dental Practitioners (GDPs) and Specialist Paediatric Dentists (SPDs). The aim of this study is to investigate Swedish dentists' attitudes about pain management when treating children and adolescents by assessing 1) dentists' recommendations for the use of pre- and postoperative analgesics, 2) use of local anaesthesia during treatment of primary and permanent teeth, and 3) if the use of these strategies differs between GDPs and SPDs.

All SPDs (including post-graduate dentists in paediatric dentistry) in Sweden, circa 150 in total, and approximately 1,000 GDPs, will be invited to answer the questionnaire. To be included GDPs need to have registered addresses in county Skåne, Sweden, and be accredited to provide dental care to children and adolescents by Region Skåne, the regional public health and dental care provider. A questionnaire along with written information about the study and two consent forms will be mailed to presumptive study participants. Those willing to participate in the study are asked to return (postage prepaid) one signed consent form and the completed questionnaire. The questionnaire is adapted from one previously used in Sweden. It contains demographic questions, and questions regarding work situation. These questions are followed by four clinical scenarios, and questions relating to use of pain management practices. Responses are given on a 5-point Likert scale. The final questions are open ended and concern the use of pre- and postoperative analgesics.

Inclusion criteria

General Dental Practitioners with a civil registration address in County Skåne, Sweden.

Specialist Paediatric Dentists in Sweden.

Exclusion criteria

Not accredited to provide dental care to children and adolescents (applies to General Dental Practitioners).

≥ 65 years of age