KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES TOWARD DENTAL X-RAYS AMONG PATIENTS AT MUHIMBILI SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY IN TANZANIA

Abstract

Background

Dental X-rays are vital diagnostic tools in dentistry, providing critical information for treatment planning. However, patient awareness and understanding of the risks and benefits associated with dental radiography can significantly influence their attitudes toward these procedures.

Method

This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2008 at the Radiology Department of Muhimbili Dental School. A total of seventy patients attending the dental clinic who underwent periapical and orthopantomogram (OPG) radiography were surveyed. Data were collected using structured questionnaires designed to assess knowledge and attitudes regarding dental X-rays.

Results

The results revealed that 70% of participants understood the radiation risks associated with X-rays, while 75% were aware of the indications for their use. However, only 60% were familiar with the benefits of OPG. In terms of attitudes, 80% of patients agreed that X-rays are essential for diagnosis, and 85% believed their dentist should explain the necessity of X-rays.

Conclusion

The findings indicate that while patients at Muhimbili Dental School exhibit a moderate level of knowledge and positive attitudes toward dental X-rays, there is a need for enhanced patient education regarding the risks and benefits. Implementing educational initiatives could improve understanding and alleviate concerns related to dental radiography.

Keywords:

Dental X-rays, patient awareness, radiography, periapical, orthopantomogram, knowledge, attitudes

References

Erdelyi RA, Duma VF, Sinescu C, Dobre GM, Bradu A, Podoleanu A. Dental Diagnosis and Treatment Assessments: Between X-rays Radiography and Optical Coherence Tomography. Materials (Basel). 2020 Oct 28;13(21):4825. doi: 10.3390/ma13214825. PMID: 33126714; PMCID: PMC7662893.

Shah N, Bansal N, Logani A. Recent advances in imaging technologies in dentistry. World J Radiol. 2014 Oct 28;6(10):794-807. doi: 10.4329/wjr.v6.i10.794. PMID: 25349663; PMCID: PMC4209425.

Hakeberg M, Berggren U, Gröndahl HG. A radiographic study of dental health in adult patients with dental anxiety. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 1993 Feb;21(1):27-30. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0528.1993.tb00714.x. PMID: 8432101.

Bahanan L, Tehsin A, Mousa R, Albadi M, Barayan M, Khan E, Khalifah H. Women's awareness regarding the use of dental imaging during pregnancy. BMC Oral Health. 2021 Jul 20;21(1):357. doi: 10.1186/s12903-021-01726-6. PMID: 34284764; PMCID: PMC8290609.

Al Faleh W, Bin Mubayrik A, Al Dosary S, Almthen H, Almatrafi R. Public Perception and Viewpoints of Dental Radiograph Prescriptions and Dentists' Safety Protection Practice. Clin Cosmet Investig Dent. 2020 Nov 17;12:533-539. doi: 10.2147/CCIDE.S281851. PMID: 33235512; PMCID: PMC7680142.

Begum A, Jayaraman M. Knowledge, awareness, and practice survey on conventional radiographic methods and processing among dental students. J Adv Pharm Technol Res. 2022 Nov;13(Suppl 1):S6-S11. doi: 10.4103/japtr.japtr_299_22. Epub 2022 Nov 30. PMID: 36643141; PMCID: PMC9836106.

Bhattad PB, Pacifico L. Empowering Patients: Promoting Patient Education and Health Literacy. Cureus. 2022 Jul 27;14(7):e27336. doi: 10.7759/cureus.27336. PMID: 36043002; PMCID: PMC9411825.

Johnson AM, Brimhall AS, Johnson ET, Hodgson J, Didericksen K, Pye J, Harmon GJC, Sewell KB. A systematic review of the effectiveness of patient education through patient portals. JAMIA Open. 2023 Jan 18; 6(1):ooac085. doi: 10.1093/jamiaopen/ooac085. PMID: 36686972; PMCID: PMC9847535.

Bansal GJ. Digital radiography. A comparison with modern conventional imaging. Postgrad Med J. 2006 Jul;82(969):425-8. doi: 10.1136/pgmj.2005.038448. PMID: 16822918; PMCID: PMC2563775.

Artz D S. Computed radiography for the radiological technologist. Semin Radiol 19973212–24. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Naqvi STS, Batool SW, Rizvi SAH, Farhan K. Awareness of Hazards of X-Ray Imaging and Perception Regarding Necessary Safety Measures to be Taken During X-Ray Imaging Procedures Among Patients in Public Sector Tertiary Hospitals of Karachi, Pakistan. Cureus. 2019 May 25;11(5):e4756. doi: 10.7759/cureus.4756. PMID: 31367492; PMCID: PMC6666880.

Karavas E, Ece B, Aydın S, Kocak M, Cosgun Z, Bostanci IE, Kantarci M. Are we aware of radiation: A study about necessity of diagnostic X-ray exposure. World J Methodol. 2022 Jul 20;12(4):264-273. doi: 10.5662/wjm.v12.i4.264. PMID: 36159099; PMCID: PMC9350723.

Kada, S. Awareness and knowledge of radiation dose and associated risks among final year medical students in Norway. Insights Imaging 8, 599–605 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13244-017-0569-y

Al-Haj Husain A, Schmidt V, Valdec S, Stadlinger B, Winklhofer S, Schönegg D, Sommer S, Özcan M, Al-Haj Husain N, Piccirelli M. MR-orthopantomography in operative dentistry and oral and maxillofacial surgery: a proof of concept study. Sci Rep. 2023 Apr 17;13(1):6228. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-33483-7. Erratum in: Sci Rep. 2023 May 8;13(1):7457. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-34473-5. PMID: 37069287; PMCID: PMC10110573.

Suskin JA, Rao V, Crozier JW, Yi T, Benz E, Woo AS. Re-evaluating the need for orthopantomography in the management of mandibular trauma: is computed tomography enough? Emerg Radiol. 2022 Aug;29(4):663-670. doi: 10.1007/s10140-022-02049-x. Epub 2022 Apr 15. PMID: 35426532.

Rushton VE, Horner K. The use of panoramic radiology in dental practice. J. Dent. 1996;24:185–201. doi: 10.1016/0300-5712(95)00055-0. [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]

Kjelle E, Chilanga C. The assessment of image quality and diagnostic value in X-ray images: a survey on radiographers' reasons for rejecting images. Insights Imaging. 2022 Mar 4;13(1):36. doi: 10.1186/s13244-022-01169-9. PMID: 35244800; PMCID: PMC8894552.

Ho JCY, Chai HH, Lo ECM, Huang MZ, Chu CH. Strategies for Effective Dentist-Patient Communication: A Literature Review. Patient Prefer Adherence. 2024 Jul 1;18:1385-1394. doi: 10.2147/PPA.S465221. PMID: 38974679; PMCID: PMC11225999.

Waylen A. The importance of communication in dentistry. Dental Update. 2017;44(8):774–780. doi: 10.12968/denu.2017.44.8.774 [CrossRef] [Google Scholar

Dauer LT, Thornton RH, Hay JL, Balter R, Williamson MJ, St Germain J. Fears, feelings, and facts: interactively communicating benefits and risks of medical radiation with patients. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2011 Apr;196(4):756-61. doi: 10.2214/AJR.10.5956. PMID: 21427321; PMCID: PMC3816522.

Takebayashi Y, Lyamzina Y, Suzuki Y, Murakami M. Risk Perception and Anxiety Regarding Radiation after the 2011 Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Accident: A Systematic Qualitative Review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2017 Oct 27;14(11):1306. doi: 10.3390/ijerph14111306. PMID: 29077045; PMCID: PMC5707945.

Assessing local patients' knowledge and awareness of radiation dose and risks associated with medical imaging: a questionnaire study. Sin HK, Wong CS, Huang B, Yiu KL, Wong WL, Chu YC. J Med Imaging Radiat Oncol. 2013;57:38–44. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Patient knowledge and understanding of radiation from diagnostic imaging. Busey JM, Soine LA, Yager JR, Choi E, Shuman WP. JAMA Intern Med. 2013; 173:239–241. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Alsleem H, Davidson R, Al-Dhafiri B, Alsleem R, Ameer H. Evaluation of radiographers' knowledge and attitudes of image quality optimisation in paediatric digital radiography in Saudi Arabia and Australia: a survey-based study. J Med Radiat Sci. 2019 Dec;66(4):229-237. doi: 10.1002/jmrs.366. Epub 2019 Nov 6. PMID: 31697039; PMCID: PMC6920681.

Weatherburn GC, Ridout D, Strickland NH, et al. A comparison of conventional film, CR hard copy and PACS soft copy images of the chest: analyses of ROC curves and inter‐observer agreement. Eur J Radiol 2003; 47: 206–14. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]