Dentists’ role in oral care for head and neck cancer patients in GCC countries
Abstract This study evaluates dentists’ knowledge of oral and dental procedures before and after radiotherapy for head and neck cancer patients in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. A web-based cross-sectional survey was distributed via social media to dentists in six GCC countries, assessing...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-14039-3 |
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| author | Bassel Tarakji Anas B. Alsalhani Faisal Mehsen Alali Samer Rastam Nasser Raqe Alqhtani Abdullah Saad Alqahtahni Ali Robaian Faisal S. Alhedyan Abdullah Bin Nabhan Adel Alenazi Khalid Ayidh Alqahtani Ali Alrafedah Abdullah Ahmed Abbas Alleft Banna Alnufaiy Rafif Alshenaiber Rawda Omar Alghabban Maram Alagla Mohammed A. S. Abuelqomsan Adel S. Alqarni Refal Albaijan Laila S. Almufleh Qamar Hashem Mohammed Noushad Mohammad Zakaria Nassani |
| author_facet | Bassel Tarakji Anas B. Alsalhani Faisal Mehsen Alali Samer Rastam Nasser Raqe Alqhtani Abdullah Saad Alqahtahni Ali Robaian Faisal S. Alhedyan Abdullah Bin Nabhan Adel Alenazi Khalid Ayidh Alqahtani Ali Alrafedah Abdullah Ahmed Abbas Alleft Banna Alnufaiy Rafif Alshenaiber Rawda Omar Alghabban Maram Alagla Mohammed A. S. Abuelqomsan Adel S. Alqarni Refal Albaijan Laila S. Almufleh Qamar Hashem Mohammed Noushad Mohammad Zakaria Nassani |
| author_sort | Bassel Tarakji |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract This study evaluates dentists’ knowledge of oral and dental procedures before and after radiotherapy for head and neck cancer patients in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. A web-based cross-sectional survey was distributed via social media to dentists in six GCC countries, assessing knowledge of pre- and post-radiotherapy oral care. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, and logistic regression. Among 1,223 participants, the highest representation was from Saudi Arabia (n = 387). Overall, 40.1% had poor knowledge, 51.3% moderate, and 8.7% good. Dentists with less than five years of experience demonstrated better knowledge (p < 0.0033). Saudi dentists and those in government clinics had higher knowledge than private practitioners and dentists in other GCC countries. General practitioners outperformed specialists (p < 0.0033). Knowledge of post-radiotherapy care was better than pre-radiotherapy, with significant gaps in management awareness. The findings highlight substantial knowledge deficiencies, particularly in pre-radiotherapy care. Surprisingly, less experienced dentists performed better, likely due to recent education. Despite relatively higher knowledge among Saudi dentists and government employees, overall knowledge remains suboptimal. These findings underscore the need for targeted education and training programs to enhance dentists’ understanding of radiotherapy-related oral care. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-68eb76e38bb44189b1997001ff5ab877 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-68eb76e38bb44189b1997001ff5ab8772025-08-20T03:45:59ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-08-011511910.1038/s41598-025-14039-3Dentists’ role in oral care for head and neck cancer patients in GCC countriesBassel Tarakji0Anas B. Alsalhani1Faisal Mehsen Alali2Samer Rastam3Nasser Raqe Alqhtani4Abdullah Saad Alqahtahni5Ali Robaian6Faisal S. Alhedyan7Abdullah Bin Nabhan8Adel Alenazi9Khalid Ayidh Alqahtani10Ali Alrafedah11Abdullah Ahmed Abbas Alleft12Banna Alnufaiy13Rafif Alshenaiber14Rawda Omar Alghabban15Maram Alagla16Mohammed A. S. Abuelqomsan17Adel S. Alqarni18Refal Albaijan19Laila S. Almufleh20Qamar Hashem21Mohammed Noushad22Mohammad Zakaria Nassani23Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Dentistry, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz UniversityDepartment of Dentistry, Vision CollegesDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Dentistry, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz UniversityDepartment of Medicine, Vision Colleges in RiyadhDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Dentistry, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz UniversityDepartment of Preventive Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz UniversityDepartment of Conservative Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz UniversityDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Dentistry, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz UniversityDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Dentistry, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz UniversityDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Dentistry, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz UniversityDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Dentistry, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz UniversityDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Dentistry, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz UniversityDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Dentistry, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz UniversityDepartment of Preventive Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz UniversityDepartment of Prosthetic Dental Sciences, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz UniversityDepartment of Pediatric Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz UniversityDepartment of Pediatric Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz UniversityDepartment of Conservative Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz UniversityDepartment of Pediatric Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz UniversityDepartment of Prosthetic Dental Sciences, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz UniversityDepartment of Conservative Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz UniversityDepartment of Conservative Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz UniversityDepartment of Restorative and Prosthetic Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Dar Al Uloom UniversityDepartment of Restorative and Prosthetic Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Dar Al Uloom UniversityAbstract This study evaluates dentists’ knowledge of oral and dental procedures before and after radiotherapy for head and neck cancer patients in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. A web-based cross-sectional survey was distributed via social media to dentists in six GCC countries, assessing knowledge of pre- and post-radiotherapy oral care. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, and logistic regression. Among 1,223 participants, the highest representation was from Saudi Arabia (n = 387). Overall, 40.1% had poor knowledge, 51.3% moderate, and 8.7% good. Dentists with less than five years of experience demonstrated better knowledge (p < 0.0033). Saudi dentists and those in government clinics had higher knowledge than private practitioners and dentists in other GCC countries. General practitioners outperformed specialists (p < 0.0033). Knowledge of post-radiotherapy care was better than pre-radiotherapy, with significant gaps in management awareness. The findings highlight substantial knowledge deficiencies, particularly in pre-radiotherapy care. Surprisingly, less experienced dentists performed better, likely due to recent education. Despite relatively higher knowledge among Saudi dentists and government employees, overall knowledge remains suboptimal. These findings underscore the need for targeted education and training programs to enhance dentists’ understanding of radiotherapy-related oral care.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-14039-3DentistsRadiotherapyHead and neck cancerOral careGCC countries |
| spellingShingle | Bassel Tarakji Anas B. Alsalhani Faisal Mehsen Alali Samer Rastam Nasser Raqe Alqhtani Abdullah Saad Alqahtahni Ali Robaian Faisal S. Alhedyan Abdullah Bin Nabhan Adel Alenazi Khalid Ayidh Alqahtani Ali Alrafedah Abdullah Ahmed Abbas Alleft Banna Alnufaiy Rafif Alshenaiber Rawda Omar Alghabban Maram Alagla Mohammed A. S. Abuelqomsan Adel S. Alqarni Refal Albaijan Laila S. Almufleh Qamar Hashem Mohammed Noushad Mohammad Zakaria Nassani Dentists’ role in oral care for head and neck cancer patients in GCC countries Scientific Reports Dentists Radiotherapy Head and neck cancer Oral care GCC countries |
| title | Dentists’ role in oral care for head and neck cancer patients in GCC countries |
| title_full | Dentists’ role in oral care for head and neck cancer patients in GCC countries |
| title_fullStr | Dentists’ role in oral care for head and neck cancer patients in GCC countries |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dentists’ role in oral care for head and neck cancer patients in GCC countries |
| title_short | Dentists’ role in oral care for head and neck cancer patients in GCC countries |
| title_sort | dentists role in oral care for head and neck cancer patients in gcc countries |
| topic | Dentists Radiotherapy Head and neck cancer Oral care GCC countries |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-14039-3 |
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