Table 3 Perceived knowledge, attitude and barrier scores across different dentists’ characteristics

Total score

20.9 ( 2.9)

13.5 (3.2)

19.4 (3.6)

Gender

 Male

21.1 (2.8)

t = 1.57

P = 0.21

14.6 (2.9)

t = 39.88

P < 0.001

19.5 (3.7)

t = 2.9

P = 0.58

 Female

20.7 (2.9)

12.7 (3.1)

19.3 (3.6)

Age (years)

 20–29

20.2 (2.9)^a

F = 10.52

P < 0.001

13.8 (3.1)

F = 0.86

P = 0.46

19.1 (3.6)

F = 1.35

P = 0.26

 30–39

20.9 (2.9)

13.2 (3.2)

19.7 (3.4)

 40–49

21.7 (2.6)^b

13.4 (3.2)

19.5 (3.7)

 50+

22.5 (2.2)^b

13.4 (3.3)

20.3 (3.9)

Workplace region

 Cairo & Alexandria

20.8 (2.8)

F = 0.13

P = 0.9

13.4 (2.9)

F = 0.81

P = 0.492

19.7 (3.7)^a

F = 3.83

P = 0.01

 Middle Delta

20.9 (2.7)

13.9 (3.2)

18.8 (3.5)^b

 Upper Egypt

21.1 (2.9)

13.5 (3.6)

20.1 (2.6)

 West Delta

20.8 (3.2)

13.9 (3.6)

18.4 (3.5)^b

Workplace category

 Private

21.1 (2.4)

F = 6.56

P < 0.001

13.9 (3.2)

F = 3.49

P = 0.016

18.9 (3.6)

F = 2.9

P = 0.07

 Governmental

20.7 (3.1)

12.9 (3.4)^a

20.1 (3.9)

 University

20.1 (2.6)^a

13.4 (2.8)

18.9 (3.5)

 Mixed

21.6 (2.8)^b

14.1 (3.1)^b

19.4 (3.3)

Education

 Bachelor

20.3 (2.7)^a

F = 12.05

P < 0.001

13.8 (3.1)

F = 2.14

P = 0.119

19.2(3.7)

F = 0.90

P = 0.41

 Diploma/Master

21.4 (3.0)^b

13.0 (3.3)

19.8 (3.2)

 Ph.D./Fellowship

21.8 (2.7)^b

13.7 (3.1)

19.4 (3.8)

Years of experience

 Less than 5 years

19.8 (2.9)^a

F = 18.52

P < 0.001

13.7 (3.1)

F = 1.62

P = 0.19

19.0 (3.8)

F = 2.08

P = 0.126

 5–10 years

20.9 (2.6)^b

13.9 (3.1)

19.3 (3.1)

 More than 10 years

21.8 (2.7)^b

13.2 (3.2)

19.8 (3.7)

Proportion of older patients /day

 <10%

20.2 (2.6)^a

F = 8.38

P < 0.001

12.9 (3.0)

F = 4.37

P = 0.13

19.9 (3.7)^a

F = 4.75

P = 0.009

 11–30%

21.1 (3.1)^b

13.8 (3.1)

18.9 (3.5)^b

 >30%

21.7 (2.9)^b

14.1 (3.4)

19.8 (3.4)