Knowledge of sportsmen and coaches about dental trauma in 2011 in Mashhad

Sports activities are one of the main etiologic factors of traumatic dental injuries. The purpose of this study was to assess the level of knowledge in athletes and their coaches regarding management of dental traumas. This cross-sectional study was performed on professional athletes of contact sports and their coaches in Mashhad using the census technique. Data were collected using a questionnaire which surveyed the athletes’ personal and occupational data and consisted of questions about the management of four dental traumas. Statistical analysis was carried out with chi-squared and Mann-Whitney tests (α=0.05). The majority of athletes (44.2%) were 20‒30 years of age and the majority of coaches (44%) were over 40 years of age. Sports activity durations in the majority of athletes (37%) and coaches (36.6%) were 1‒5 and more than 10 years, respectively. The level of knowledge in the management of dental traumas in 3.8% of athletes was moderate; with 45% having low and 43.8% having very low knowledge levels and 7.5% had no awareness at all. The level of knowledge in 6.6% of coaches was high, with 17.1% having moderate, 53.9% having low, and 17.1% having very low knowledge levels; 3% had no knowledge at all. There was no significant correlation between level of knowledge and sex, age and sporting activity duration in athletes and coaches (p value > 0.05). Under the limitations of this study, the level of knowledge in athletes and coaches was insufficient in relation to dental traumas. Therefore, it appears it is necessary to prepare educational courses to improve the knowledge and awareness of athletes and coaches on the subject.