Knowledge, awareness, and perception of oral and maxillofacial surgery among the public and professionals in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study

Although oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMS) is expanding rapidly in Saudi Arabia, accurate knowledge of the specialty appears to be lacking. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, awareness, and perception of OMS among the public and professionals in Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional design was adopted, incorporating five groups: dental interns, dental practitioners, medical interns, medical practitioners, and the public. A sample size of 130 was determined for each group, assuming a significance level of 5% and test power of 90%. Surveys were distributed randomly to participants from March to June 2018. For each of 15 specific clinical problems, respondents were asked to choose the most appropriate of three overlapping specialties for treatment, including OMS. A total of 1051 responses were collected. Participants correctly recognized OMS as appropriate for some problems, such as mandibular reconstruction, but for others recognition was poor. Surprisingly, medical professionals were the only group to strongly consider plastic surgery appropriate for treating orthognathic correction. Dental professionals were the most informed. This study highlights the need for greater awareness and education regarding OMS, promoting its development, contribution, and impact among the public and healthcare professionals in Saudi Arabia.