Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39443974›Full record

SynthesisBMC health services research2024

A systematic review of dentists' knowledge, perception, practice and confidence in managing patients with cancers.

Sheau Ling Low, Alexander Holden, Joanne Shaw

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC health services research, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. ONCOllab for Transmission of Knowledge Related to Oral Complications of Cancer Therapy Among Dental Students.European journal of dental education : official journal of the Association for Dental Education in Europe · 2026
    Trial
  2. The Role of Dental Oncology in Cancer Care: a Critical Component of Comprehensive Treatment, Education, and Interdisciplinary Collaboration- a Narrative Review.Journal of cancer education : the official journal of the American Association for Cancer Education · 2026
    Review
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Sheau Ling LowSchool of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0004-5492-4257
Alexander HoldenSchool of Dentistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5698-8973
Joanne ShawSchool of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia. joanne.shaw@sydney.edu.au.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9543-7066

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeLittle is known about dentists' preparedness in managing oral side effects in patients undergoing cancer therapy (CTx). The purpose of this systematic review is to identify barriers and facilitators of dentists in managing oral health of cancer patients (CPs).

methodsThe review adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and was Prospero registered (CRD42022333055). CINAHL, Embase, Medline, PsycInfo and Scopus databases were searched using keywords and MeSH terms: dentists, oral health, cancer. The outcomes were analysed descriptively and thematically.

resultsOf the 2303 articles screened 53 met eligibility criteria. Most of articles (n = 50) reported on head and neck cancer (HNC) management. Dentists' oral cancer (OC) knowledge varied across studies (27% to 81%, n = 35). Regardless of their knowledge level, the majority of dentists expressed interest in further cancer education. Across studies, dentists perceived that their role included providing dental treatment for OC patients. However, of the few studies (n = 3) that explored dentists' confidence in managing CPs, less than half of dentists felt confident providing advice to patients with HNC. More barriers than facilitators are identified in providing dental care provision to CPs.

conclusionThis review demonstrates gap in dental care for patients with non-HNCs and highlights a need for methods to involve dentists in managing dental health of CPs.

Indexed as

DentistsHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeAttitude of Health PersonnelHumansNeoplasmsBarriersCancer patientDentistOral health

Identifiers

PMID39443974
PMCPMC11515570

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.