Table 3 Practice behaviors and opinions regarding oral health and the link with diabetes (never- very often and I do not agree, I agree)
Questions | Endocrinologists (n = 23) | Genaral health physicians (n = 98) | P value | Total (n = 121) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Do you refer your patients to a dentist? | ||||
 Never | 1 (4.4%) | 2 (2%) | 0.552 | 3 (2.5%) |
 Rarely | 7 (30.4%) | 20 (20.4%) | 27 (22.3%) | |
 Sometimes | 10 (43.5%) | 40 (40.8%) | 50 (41.3%) | |
 Often | 3 (13%) | 24 ( 24.5%) | 27 (22.3%) | |
 Always | 2 (8.7%) | 11 (11.3%) | 13 (10.8%) | |
 No answer | 0 | 1 (1%) | 1 (0.8%) | |
During your career, have you ever been approached by a dentist about one of your patients? | ||||
 Never | 14 (60.9%) | 16 (16.3%) | 0.001* | 30 (24.8%) |
 Rarely | 4 (17.4%) | 29 (29.6%) | 33 (27.3%) | |
 Sometimes | 5 (21.7%) | 45 (46%) | 50 (41.3%) | |
 Often | 0 | 7 (7.1%) | 7 (5.8%) | |
 Always | 0 | 1 (1%) | 1 (0.8%) | |
 No answer | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
During your consultation do you ask your patients questions related to oral health? | ||||
 Never | 3 (13%) | 4 (4.1%) | 0.038* | 7 (5.8%) |
 Rarely | 9 (39.2%) | 18 (18.4%) | 27 (22.3%) | |
 Sometimes | 8 (34.8%) | 50 (51%) | 58 (48%) | |
 Often | 3 (13%) | 15 (15.3%) | 18 (14.9%) | |
 Always | 0 | 11 (11.2%) | 11 (9%) | |
 No answer | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Do your patients report any pain or discomfort in the oral area during their consultation? | ||||
 Never | 2 (8.7%) | 0 | 0.004* | 2 (1.7%) |
 Rarely | 8 (34.8%) | 13 (13.3%) | 21 (17.4%) | |
 Sometimes | 12 (52.1%) | 62 (63.3%) | 74 (61.1%) | |
 Often | 1 (4.4%) | 19 (19.4%) | 20 (16.5%) | |
 Always | 0 | 4 (4%) | 4 (3.3%) | |
 No answer | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Do you ever explain to your patients the relationship between diabetes and periodontitis? | ||||
 Never | 6 (26.1%) | 24 (24.5%) | 0.029* | 30 (24.8%) |
 Rarely | 7 (30.4%) | 29 (29.6%) | 36 (29.8%) | |
 Sometimes | 2 (8.7%) | 32 (32.7%) | 34 (28.1%) | |
 Often | 6 (26.1%) | 10 (10.2%) | 16 (13.2%) | |
 Always | 2 (8.7%) | 2 (2%) | 4 (3.3%) | |
 No answer | 0 | 1 (1%) | 1 (0.8%) | |
In France, health insurance companies reimburse the cost of periodontal disease treatment in diabetics. Do you think this procedure would be beneficial in Switzerland? | ||||
 Strongly Disagree | 0 | 3 (3.1%) | 0.029* | 3 (2.5%) |
 Disagree | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
 Undecided | 1 (4.4%) | 16 (16.3%) | 17 (14.1%) | |
 Agree | 3 (13%) | 32 (32.7%) | 35 (28.9%) | |
 Strongly Agree | 19 (82.6%) | 46 (46.9%) | 65 (53.7%) | |
 No answer | 0 | 1 (1%) | 1 (0.8%) | |
The management of diabetic patients would be improved if there was interdisciplinary collaboration between general practitioners or diabetologists and the dentists | ||||
 Strongly Disagree | 0 | 0 | 0.545 | 0 |
 Disagree | 0 | 4 (4.1%) | 4 (3.3%) | |
 Undecided | 4 (17.4%) | 18 (18.4%) | 22 (18.2%) | |
 Agree | 10 (43.5%) | 51 (52%) | 61 (50.4%) | |
 Strongly Agree | 9 (39.1%) | 24 (24.5%) | 33 (27.3%) | |
 No answer | 0 | 1 (1%) | 1 (0.8%) | |