Knowledge of nurses working at schools in Bialystok, Poland, of tooth avulsion and its management

AIM: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the knowledge of first aid in tooth avulsion among nurses working at schools in Bialystok, Poland. A part of this population attended a lecture on the management of dental trauma 2 years before. METHODS: The survey was conducted in September 2010 and covered 50 (96.15%) school nurses from Bialystok. Thirty-eight of them attended the dental trauma lecture conducted 2 years before the survey. They were asked to fill in an anonymous questionnaire consisting of 20 closed questions referring to demographic data, previous dental trauma experience, and training. Seven questions referred directly to the knowledge of management of dental avulsion and on that basis, the level of nurses' knowledge was evaluated. The data were analyzed statistically using the Mann-Withney U-test with P < 0.05 to find factors influencing the level of knowledge. RESULTS: The study showed that nurses' knowledge about tooth avulsion was at an appropriate level. 86% of the participants chose the correct definition of the term of replantation, 92% understood that the time is crucial for the result of a replantation, 94% knew that an avulsed tooth should be held by the crown, and 96% pointed the proper transport medium. A half of the surveyed nurses declared that they would provide tooth replantation and another 16% would consult the procedures by calling a dentist. One statistically significant correlation between the level of knowledge and previous dental trauma training was revealed (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The lay knowledge of tooth avulsion in the population of nurses working at schools in Bialystok, Poland, was at an appropriate level. There was a strong correlation between this level and the participation in the lecture on the management of dental trauma conducted 2 years before.