Lay knowledge of physical education teachers about the emergency management of dental trauma in Hong Kong
- 1 April 2001
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Wiley in Dental Traumatology
- Vol. 17 (2), 77-85
- https://doi.org/10.1034/j.1600-9657.2001.017002077.x
Abstract
– The purpose of this study was to investigate the knowledge of a group of physical education (PE) teachers about the emergency management of dental trauma in Hong Kong. A postal questionnaire was sent to PE teachers in 100 randomly selected secondary schools in Hong Kong. A total of 166 teachers from 65 schools responded. Results show that a majority of the respondents have received formal teaching training (98.8%). While all but one teacher had received formal first aid training, only eight of them recalled that they had received advice on the management of dental trauma. Concerning the management of tooth fracture, 118 respondents (71.1%) gave an appropriate answer. In contrast, only 29 teachers (17.5%) were able to indicate the appropriate management for an avulsed tooth. Over 60% (102) of the respondents indicated it was “very urgent” to seek professional assistance if a permanent tooth has been avulsed, but they had little knowledge of the correct procedures for replanting or transporting avulsed teeth. Only 15 respondents (9%) pointed out that milk was the medium of choice for transporting avulsed teeth. Finally, over 90% (157) of respondents indicated that they had never received advice on the emergency procedures for the management of dental avulsion. The present study showed that the level of lay knowledge of management of dental injuries in a selection of PE teachers in Hong Kong is inadequate and educational campaigns are necessary to improve their emergency management of dental injuries.Keywords
This publication has 21 references indexed in Scilit:
- An investigation of dento-alveolar trauma and its treatment in an adolescent population. Part 1: The prevalence and incidence of injuries and the extent and adequacy of treatment receivedBritish Dental Journal, 1997
- Paediatric sports injuries in Hong Kong: a seven year survey.British Journal of Sports Medicine, 1996
- Lay and professional knowledge of methods for emergency management of avulsed teethDental Traumatology, 1992
- Dental injuries: “first aid” knowledge of Southampton teachers of physical educationDental Traumatology, 1991
- A six‐year follow‐up study of sports‐related dental injuries in children and adolescentsDental Traumatology, 1990
- Parental awareness of the emergency management of avulsed teeth in childrenAustralian Dental Journal, 1990
- On the causes of traumatic dental injuries with special reference to sports accidents in a sample of Finnish children A study of a clinical patient materialActa Odontologica Scandinavica, 1980
- CAUSES OF ACCIDENTAL INJURIES TO THE TEETH AND JAWS*Journal of Public Health Dentistry, 1975
- Dental injuries in Copenhagen schoolchildren, school years 1967–1972Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology, 1974
- DENTAL INJURIES IN SEATTLE'S PUBLIC SCHOOL CHILDREN; SCHOOL YEAR 1969‐70Journal of Public Health Dentistry, 1972