Introduction: special care dentistry (SCD) is concerned with oral health of people with disability. Research data on the awareness of postgraduate dentists regarding the management of patients with special health care needs (SHCN) is limited in Egypt.
Objectives: The aim was to assess knowledge, attitude and reported practices of postgraduate dentists regarding physically disabled patients in the Faculty of Dentistry, Alexandria University.
Material and Methods: This study was based on a cross sectional, analytical design. The questionnaire conducted on sample of postgraduate dental students at the Faculty of Dentistry Alexandria University during six months (August 2019 - January 2020). The participants were asked to complete a comprehensive, close-ended self- administered questionnaire on Special Needs Patients especially the physical disabled. The questionnaire was consisted of 42 items in four sections. The first section was concerned with subject's demographic. The second and third sections enquired about the participants' knowledge, attitudes and management. The fourth section assessed the respondents' actions taken to manage SNP. Multivariable regression analysis was carried out to determine the effect of different factors on knowledge, attitudes and practices scores.
Results: The study participants (sample size= 251 out of 435 postgraduate students with a response rate of 90.6%). According to regression analysis pedodontics, dental public health and dental materials showed significantly higher knowledge score than periodontology, oral medicine and radiology (0.77 (0.10, 1.44)).
Conclusions: There is a need to increase dentists' awareness regarding SNP and designing appropriate training programs to enhance their practices towards management of these patients.