Methods: A didactic and hands-on workshop was conducted at the 2009 annual session of the ADA Health Screening Program. Forty dentists were trained on disease epidemiology, prevention and screening, and how to conduct and interpret the screening tests according to documented guidelines. Medical history was collected, blood pressure measured, and finger-stick blood collected to measure total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and hemoglobin A1c using handheld, validated machines that yield immediate results. CHD risk was assessed with the Framingham Risk Score (FRS) and DM risk with the A1c test. Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to test change in participants' attitudes, knowledge, comfort level, perceived barriers for conducting and interpreting chairside screening for CHD and DM.
Results: The distribution of the 40 participants was: 80% male; 73% white; 20% Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander; 87% general practitioners; 74% practicing >10 years. Following training, there was a significant (p<0.05) increase in: importance of testing for CHD, DM and hypertension; willingness to discuss results immediately, and to take oral fluid and finger-stick blood samples; understanding of the FRS and interpretation of blood pressure measurements; understanding when medical referral is indicated; and the likelihood of incorporating DM screening into practice. There was also an increased likelihood, although not significant (p=0.065), of incorporating CHD screening into their practice.
Conclusions: Focused didactic and hands-on training can significantly impact dentists' knowledge and attitudes about chairside medical screening and facilitate incorporation of these activities into practice.