Methods: The current study is a cross-sectional survey of all primary-care nurses working in the public health centers of Tehran city. An anonymous self-administered questionnaire queried their knowledge in pediatric-, general and medicine-related areas of dentistry, providing knowledge scores for three domains. The nurses' attitudes toward OHC and their willingness to obtain OHC information underwent evaluation with statements utilizing a five-point Likert scale. Altogether 680 nurses took part in the survey. The Chi-square test, t-test, one-way ANOVA and logistic regression model served for statistical analyses.
Results: The mean score for the pediatric dentistry domain (3.6, SD: 1.5) was lower than those of medical (4.4, SD: 2.3) and dental domains (5.8, SD: 1.5). Obtaining higher scores in the pediatric (OR=1.2) and dental (OR=1.3) domains, and a greater willingness to receive OHC information (OR=5.3) were associated with a positive attitude toward OHC. Nurses with lower education level (OR=1.9) and better oral health behavior (OR=1.1) as well as those working in a non-affluent region (OR=1.6) had a more positive attitude toward OHC.
Conclusions: Primary care nurses' low level of knowledge in OHC and their positive attitude and willingness to obtain more information point to the need for appropriate training.