Dentist’s Perception Regarding Treatment Criteria For Children Under General Anaesthesia: A Multi-Centred Survey

Abstract

Treating children under general anaesthesia (GA) has become an essential phase of dentistry. However, it is of paramount importance for the general dentists (GDs) and specialist practitioners (SPs) to have adequate knowledge regarding the necessary treatment criteria and guidelines laid down for treating children under GA. The present study aims to assess the knowledge and practice regarding the treatment criteria used for treating children under GA among GDs and SPs. A convenient sample of 200 participants were enrolled, and the study was conducted among GDs and SPs in three different dental colleges and hospitals in India. A validated questionnaire was used to evaluate the knowledge, attitude and practice about the treatment criteria and guidelines followed for treating children under GA among the participants. A significant correlation was outlined between the different age group of practitioners and an increase in the number of GA cases performed by them in the last ten years (p= 0.011), where more number of participants in the age group of 20- 25 years reported an increase in the number of GA cases performed by them in the last ten years. Another significant correlation was observed between the years of experience of practitioners and the number of GA cases performed by them in the last ten years (p= 0.048). It was found that an increased number of participants in their initial years of practice (i.e., 0-5 years) preferred treating children under GA which eventually increased the number of GA cases performed by them in the last ten years. The clinical practitioners should strictly follow the necessary treatment criteria and guidelines laid down for treating children under GA in their routine practice. An increasing trend of performing GA in dentistry have encouraged more of clinical practitioners for treating children under GA.