Predictors of Physician Awareness of the Periodontal Disease–Diabetes Association: A Cross-Sectional Study in Ghana

Abstract

Abstract Background Periodontal disease (PD) and diabetes mellitus (DM) have a well-established bidirectional relationship, affecting glycaemic control and chronic disease outcomes. However, the extent to which medical training supports physician awareness of this association remains unclear especially in resource-limited settings. Objective To assess exposure to oral health education and to identify predictors of awareness of PD-DM association among physicians. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 146 physicians managing diabetic patients at a tertiary teaching hospital in Ghana. A structured questionnaire assessed exposure to oral health education, periodontal disease knowledge (score range 0–5), and awareness using a 5-item Likert scale (score range 5–25). Multivariable linear regression identified predictors of awareness. Results Although 62.1% reported exposure to oral health content during undergraduate training, 59.2% rated its quality as poor. Mean awareness score was 20.6 (SD=2.8). Awareness was independently predicted by years of professional experience (p < 0.001) and periodontal disease knowledge (p = 0.008), but not by structured oral health curriculum exposure. Conclusion Awareness of the PD-DM link was high but was not explained by formal educational exposure. Awareness appears to develop through knowledge of PD and professional experience, suggesting a gap between curricular exposure and competency.