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Special Care Dentistry: attitudes of Specialists in Paediatric Dentistry practising in the UK to the creation of a new specialty
Author(s) -
HUNTER M. L.,
HUNTER B.,
THOMPSON S. A.,
MCLAUGHLIN W. S.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
international journal of paediatric dentistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.183
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1365-263X
pISSN - 0960-7439
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-263x.2004.00566.x
Subject(s) - specialty , medicine , family medicine , dentistry , paediatric dentistry , dental care
Summary. Objectives. This study was designed to examine the attitudes of Specialists in Paediatric Dentistry (SPDs) practising in the UK towards the creation of a specialty of Special Care Dentistry (SCD). Design. Data were collected by postal questionnaire. Sample and methods. Two hundred and eleven dentists whose names were entered on the General Dental Council's Specialist List in Paediatric Dentistry, and who were resident and practising in the UK, were asked to complete a questionnaire consisting of both open and closed questions. Results. Questionnaires were returned by 167 (79·2%) of the eligible SPDs. One hundred and sixty respondents (95·8%) expressed an opinion in relation to the creation of a specialty of SCD. One hundred and forty‐three respondents (85·6%) stated that they supported such a proposal. However, slightly fewer ( n = 149) respondents were prepared to indicate what they considered to be the remit of the proposed specialty. Ninety‐two respondents (55·1%) considered that it should be restricted to the provision of specialist care for adults with ‘special needs’; the remaining 57 respondents felt that it should provide specialist care across the entire age spectrum. Conclusions. Among SPDs, there is overwhelming support for the creation of a specialty of SCD, the majority view being that this should be dedicated to the provision of specialist care for adults with ‘special needs’.