Investigation of Osteoradionecrosis Awareness of Dentists in Turkey in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer

Year 2025, Volume: 12 Issue: 1, 1 - 6, 21.04.2025

Uğur Dolunay , Hasan Küçükkolbaşı , Yunus Akdoğan

https://doi.org/10.15311/selcukdentj.1483621

Abstract

Introduction: Head and neck cancers; include cancers in the oral cavity, lip, nasal cavity, salivary glands, pharynx, and larynx. This study aimed to investigate dentists' awareness of osteoradionecrosis, one of the most critical side effects of radiotherapy in patients with head and neck cancer.
Material and Method: In this survey study, dentists from 12 different regions in NUTS-1 determined by TURKSTAT were reached via digital media and their participation in the study was ensured. Participants were asked 25 questions about osteoradionecrosis prepared by reviewing the literature. For the statistical analysis of the data collected from the questionnaires, frequency analysis, and chi-square test were performed with the help of the SPSS 23 package program. A p-value <0.05 was accepted for statistical significance.
Results: A total of 634 participants, including 278 (44%) intern dentists,149 (24%) general practitioner dentists, 128 (20%) doctoral-specialty students, and 79 (12%) specialist dentists, were included in the study. When the data obtained from the study is examined; It was found significant as a result of the analysis that doctorate-specialty students and specialist dentists had more knowledge in the diagnosis of osteoradionecrosis and in the treatment methods (p=0.000<0.050).
Conclusion: Necessary training should be provided both in the undergraduate program and within the framework of continuing education activities to increase the awareness of osteoradionecrosis in general practitioners and intern dentists.

Keywords

Keywords: awareness, head and neck cancer, osteoradionecrosis, radiotherapy

Ethical Statement

This article is not the version of a presentation. This article has not been prepared on the basis of a master’s/ doctoral thesis. It is declared that during the preparation process of this study, scientific and ethical principles were followed and all the studies benefited are stated in the bibliography.

Supporting Institution

None.

Thanks

None.

Baş ve Boyun Kanseri Olan Hastalarda Türkiye’deki Diş Hekimlerinin Osteoradyonekroz Farkındalıklarının Araştırılması

Abstract

Giriş: Baş ve boyun kanserleri, ağız boşluğunu, dudakları, burun boşluğunu, tükürük bezlerini, farenks ve larinks'i etkileyen kanserleri içerir. Bu çalışmanın amacı, baş ve boyun kanserli hastalarda radyoterapinin en önemli yan etkilerinden biri olan osteoradyonekroz konusunda diş hekimlerinin farkındalığını değerlendirmektir.
Materyal ve Metod: Bu anket çalışmasında, TÜİK tarafından belirlenen NUTS-1'e göre 12 farklı bölgedeki diş hekimleri, çalışmaya katılımlarını sağlamak için dijital ortamlar aracılığıyla iletişime geçildi. Katılımcılara literatür gözden geçirilerek formüle edilen 25 osteoradyonekroz ile ilgili soru soruldu. Anketlerden toplanan verilerin istatistiksel analizi için SPSS 23 yazılım paketi kullanılarak frekans analizi ve ki-kare testi yapıldı. p<0.05 değeri istatistiksel olarak anlamlı kabul edildi.
Bulgular: Çalışmaya toplam 634 katılımcı dahil edildi; bunlar 278 (%44) stajyer diş hekimi, 149 (%24) genel pratisyen diş hekimi, 128 (%20) doktora uzmanlık öğrencisi ve 79 (%12) uzman diş hekimi idi. Çalışmadan toplanan verilerin incelenmesi sonucunda, doktora uzmanlık öğrencileri ve uzman diş hekimlerinin osteoradyonekrozun tanısında ve tedavi yöntemlerinde daha fazla bilgiye sahip görülmüştür (p=0.000<0.050).
Sonuç: Pratisyen ve stajyer diş hekimlerinin osteoradyonekroz farkındalığını artırmak için lisansüstü programlar içinde ve sürekli eğitim faaliyetleri aracılığıyla gerekli eğitimlerin sağlanması faydalı olabilir.

Keywords

farkındalık, baş ve boyun kanseri, osteoradyonekroz, radyoterapi

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