2018 Volume 61 Issue 7 Pages 477-485
We used a questionnaire on periodontal disease to analyze the comprehension about periodontal disease and encourage dental care among diabetes patients among patients who attended 16 local pharmacies in Izumo city. Among the 516 valid responses, 56.4 % of the patients answered that diabetes patients were at risk of periodontal disease, 27.9 % answered that they had subjective symptoms of periodontal disease, and 31.2 % answered that they were regularly examined at a dental clinic. Significant differences were observed in the knowledge between patients who received treatment from diabetes specialists and those who received treatment from non-specialists; however, their self-care and the regularity of their examinations did not differ to a statistically significant extent. After the questionnaire, 29 patients newly visited dental clinics and the improvement rate was 8.2 %. Through the effective use of local pharmacies-where diabetes patients can receive diabetes information regardless of their doctor'specialty-as a medical resource, and collaboration with other occupations as well as between the medical and dental fields, we hope to contribute to the maintenance of medical foundation.
