Dental practitioners’ knowledge and attitude towards ultrasonography: a cross-sectional study at a South African university

Abstract

Introduction: Ultrasonography (USG) offers a safe, affordable and effective diagnostic tool for various dental applications, yet its use in routine dental practice remains limited, particularly in South Africa. This study, guided by the Knowledge–Attitude–Behaviour (KAB) model, assessed dental practitioners’ knowledge and attitudes towards USG at a South African university. The null hypothesis tested whether attitudes and knowledge differed significantly by the year of graduation or academic department. Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional study surveyed 108 dental practitioners at the University of the Western Cape (UWC), Faculty of Dentistry using a custom-developed, expert-reviewed online questionnaire. Approval was obtained from the Biomedical Research Ethics Committee (BMREC) and UWC faculty officials for the study. Data were collected via Research Electronic Data capture (REDCap) and analysed with Microsoft Excel and STATA. Participation was voluntary, anonymous and conducted with informed consent. Results: The questionnaire showed acceptable internal consistency for attitudes (α = 0.705) and lower consistency for knowledge (α = 0.537), as expected due to varied content. Results indicated a 58.3% response rate with generally positive attitudes towards USG, varying across departments. The Craniofacial Biology, Pathology and Radiology department had the highest attitude score, and Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery showed the highest familiarity with USG, with specific questions yielding statistically significant results. Regarding knowledge, the overall score was 71%. Knowledge levels were high in head and neck swellings and salivary gland disorders, while caries had the lowest score. However, no significant differences were observed across graduation years or departments. Conclusion: Dental practitioners are not only receptive to learning about USG but also enthusiastic about its potential in patient care. By integrating an USG course into the dentistry curriculum, dental practitioners would be empowered with the skills and knowledge needed to effectively harness the benefits of USG, addressing critical healthcare challenges within South Africa and third-world countries alike.