A cross sectional study on knowledge and attitude level of patients demanding implants in Isfahan, Iran, 2016

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Information gathered from patients about dental implants is often incomplete and scattered. The aim of the present study was to measure the level of this information and the attitudes of patients seeking dental implants.METHODS: In the present cross-sectional descriptive-analytic study, 248 people were employed. To discover the level of knowledge and attitudes in dental implants a questionnaire was distributed amongst the participants. Data were collected from people seeking implants in dental colleges and implant dental clinics in Isfahan, Iran. Analyses of the patients' answers in the questionnaire was carried out using SPSS software with t-test, Spearman's rho correlation coefficient, and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test (α = 0.05).RESULTS: The mean score of knowledge was 5.3 ± 2.1 (from maximum 12). The average of attitude questions in Likert scale reached to 25.84 ± 3.38 (from maximum 35), and in questions with numerical linear scale it was 21.44 ± 5.38 (from maximum 25). The source of information on dental implants for most of the patients was their dentists. The level of knowledge increased with higher level of education and also with better economic status. The attitude of patients about this method of tooth replacement was also more positive amongst ones with better economic situation.CONCLUSION: The results of the present study demonstrated that the knowledge of patients about dental implants is moderate, and there is a positive attitude toward this treatment method.