scholarly journals Higher Education students from health and non-health subject areas: aspects of oral health

Author(s):  
Daniel Rodrigues de FARIAS ◽  
Rui Barbosa de BRITO JUNIOR ◽  
Arlete Maria Gomes OLIVEIRA ◽  
Luciane ZANIN ◽  
Flávia Martão FLÓRIO

ABSTRACT Objetive To evaluate whether the area of study of undergraduate students influences oral health knowledge, attitudes and practices, in addition to the use of dental services, self-reported oral morbidity, self-perception and impacts of oral health. Methods A cross-sectional study was performed, with a probabilistic sample of 681 students from the second semester of a Higher Education Institution, who were allocated into Health (H; n = 347) and Non-Health (NH; n = 334) groups, and answered a questionnaire encompassing their sociodemographic profile and aspects of oral health. Data were analyzed by Fisher’s Chi-Square/Exact Test (α = 5%). Results The majority of students were female (H = 70.0%, NH = 56.9%, p = 0.0004), single (H = 82.7%, NH = 76.0%, p = 0.0429) and did not work (H = 30.5%, NH = 37.7%, p = 0.0482). The groups differed in terms of receiving oral health guidelines from the media (H = 19.9%, NH = 13.8%, p = 0.0333) or from other health professionals (H = 25.6%, NH = 13.2%, p <0.0001). Regarding the reasons for their most recent dental appointment, in the Health group “treatment” (42.9%) and “pain” (6.9%) prevailed, while for the Non-Health group “review, prevention or check-up” (41, 9%) and “extraction” (8.1%) (p = 0.0169) were the most prevalent. The Health group was more satisfied with their oral health, with less frequent reports of a self-perception of bad breath (H = 30.3%, NH = 38.3%, p = 0.0483). There was no association between self-perception and impacts on oral health (p> 0.05). Conclusions The groups differed regarding the source of information on oral health, the reason for seeking and type of treatment, and the self-perception of bad breath, with the Health group reporting greater satisfaction with their oral health.

Author(s):  
Camille Inquimbert ◽  
Celine Clement ◽  
Antoine Couatarmanach ◽  
Paul Tramini ◽  
Denis Bourgeois ◽  
...  

The aims of this study were to assess oral health knowledge, attitudes, and practices among orthodontic patients between the ages of 15 and 17 years old compared to adolescents without orthodontic treatment. This cross-sectional study included 392 adolescents drawn from various French teaching hospitals. A closed-ended questionnaire was used to collect data. Adolescents undergoing orthodontic treatment had a higher knowledge of oral health than adolescents without orthodontic treatment. The majority of adolescents for both groups (69%) claimed to brush their teeth twice a day. Regarding complimentary dental material, 81.9% of adolescents without orthodontic treatment never used an interdental brush and 78.8% never used dental floss. For those undergoing orthodontic treatment, 48.5% never used interdental brush. Only 4% of adolescents without and 3% of adolescents with orthodontic treatment never consumed fizzy drinks, 4.9% and 3% never consumed sweets, 4% and 8.4% never ate fast-food. Adolescents without treatment consumed more sodas (p=0.04) and more fast food (p=0.03). Adolescents had insufficient knowledge of oral health. Health education programmes should be implemented to improve adolescents' knowledge and individual oral prophylaxis with interdental brushes.


2021 ◽  
pp. 105984052110129
Author(s):  
Mohammad N. Alshloul

Oral health is a very critical component of individuals’ physical and psychological well-being. The present study aimed to investigate the dental health knowledge, attitude, and practice among schoolchildren in Abha. A cross-sectional epidemiological study was conducted. Each student completed a questionnaire regarding oral health. The participants were 800 students: 54.8% were male and 45.2% were female. Knowledge scores showed that -59.1% of the participants have fair knowledge. Statistically significant results were found between the age, school type, and students’ educational level with the knowledge of oral health care ( p < .05). More than half of the participants had positive attitudes (57.2%) and less than half demonstrated satisfactory oral health habits (45.3%). Students’ educational level was significantly associated with attitudes and practices ( p < .05). It can be concluded that the average knowledge, attitude, and practice level was 53.9%, which is not a positive indicator and needs to be strengthened.


Author(s):  
Mohammad Hadi Nazari ◽  
Simin Zahra Mohebbi ◽  
Mohammad Javad Kharazifard

Objective: This study assesses the oral health knowledge, attitudes, care practices, and related underlying factors of people with diabetes. Materials and Methods: In a descriptive cross-sectional study using a random sampling method, 201 patients who referred to five comprehensive health centers in the South of Tehran,Iran, participated. A previously published questionnaire was used, and its reliability and validation analyses were performed. There were 31 Open-Ended, Closed-Ended, and Likert scale questions, including 26 on key underlying factors, one with 13 parts in oral health knowledge, one with nine parts related to oral health attitudes, and three on care practices. Data were entered into SPSS software version 24, and descriptive statistics and regression were used to analyze and report the results. Results: The mean age of participants was 49 years (σ=7.6), and males accounted for 58.2% of the study population. 37.48% of the patients had poor oral health knowledge, whereas 61.76% of them reported average care practices, with 68.29% above average attitudes. Among the study population, only 33.3% brushed more than once per day. 35.8% considered bleeding gums while brushing unacceptable, and 42.3% reported gums swelling and redness as signs of disease. Over half of respondents (52.2%) strongly supported the idea of keeping their natural teeth as long as possible, while 41.8% were only agreed. On the other hand, patients with a higher level of education scored better in knowledge, attitudes, and care practices (p-value<0.05). Conclusion: As the knowledge, care practices, and to some extent attitudes of people with diabetes toward their general oral health were unsatisfactory, an appropriate training program should be developed to warn diabetic patients of the importance of oral health and its two-way impact on diabetes.


2021 ◽  
Vol 76 (5) ◽  
pp. 250-255
Author(s):  
Tshepiso Mfolo ◽  
Thomas K Madiba ◽  
Ahmed Bhayat

Teachers are perceived as role models and studies have shown that they can enhance the oral health behaviour of young children. To assess the oral health (OH) knowledge, attitudes and practices of public school teachers in a district in Pretoria, South Africa. This was a cross sectional analytical study. The sample comprised of six schools that were randomly selected within the Tshwane West sub district. A total of 160 teachers were included. A modified, self-administered, validated questionnaire was used to obtain the data. Of the 160 teachers included, 97 (61%) completed the questionnaire. The majority (80%) were female and the mean age was 38.23 years (±12.85; 22-66). More than 80% had an adequate level of OH knowledge, 94% reported it was important to visit a dental practitioner (DP) regularly and 94% believed that OH education should form part of the teaching curriculum. The most common reason for visiting a DP was toothache (32%) while fear (35%) was the most common barrier. Those with a higher mean age were more likely to brush frequently (p<0.01), utilise dental aids (p=0.01) and visit a DP regularly (p=0.02). The majority of teachers had adequate OH knowledge. The respondents with a higher mean age were more likely to brush frequently, use dental aids and visit a DP regularly. Workshops for teachers are required to improve current levels of knowledge and address any queries regarding prevention and diagnosing of dental diseases.


2021 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-43
Author(s):  
Larissa Tavares Henzel ◽  
Mateus Costa Silveira ◽  
Sarah Arangurem Karam ◽  
Helena Silveira Schuch ◽  
Mariana Gonzalez Cademartori ◽  
...  

Objective: To identify the magnitude of the association between dental caries experience and negative self-perception of oral health with socioeconomic determinants. Methods: Cross-sectional study conducted with data from a prospective cohort with university students entering the Federal University of Pelotas (UFPel) in 2016. Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire, including demographic, socioeconomic and psychosocial characteristics. The outcomes of the present study were experience of self-reported caries (history of caries disease) and self-perceived oral health (positive versus negative). Results: A total of 3,237 students joined, of which 2,089 (64.5%) agreed to participate in the study. The Poisson regression model known that university students with an income of R $ 1001 to 5000.00 and R $ 5001 or more primary, respectively, a prevalence ratio (PR) 14% (PR=0,86; 95%CI 0,80-0,92) and 18% (PR=0,82; 95%IC 0,74 a 0,90) lower of caries experience, as well as individualizing mothers had completed high school prevalence a 14% (PR= 0,86; 95%CI 0,80 a 0,92) lower prevalence and complete higher education 19% (PR= 0,81; 95%CI 0,75 a 0,87) less caries experience when compared to reference groups. In the self-perception of oral health, the results for income of R $ 1001 to 5000.00 and R $ 5001 or more dissipated, respectively, a 23% (PR= 0,77; 95%IC 0,64 a 0,91) and 43% (PR= 0,57; 95%IC 0,45 a 0,72) lower prevalence of having negative self-perception of oral health and qualified originating from complete higher education reported a 23% lower prevalence of negative self-perceived oral health when compared to the reference (PR= 0,79; 95%IC 0,66 a 0,97). Conclusions: The findings of the present study confirm that socioeconomic indicators influence the experience of caries and self-perceived oral health among university students.


2021 ◽  
Vol 76 (06) ◽  
pp. 322-330
Author(s):  
Feziwe Flora Mbele-Kokela ◽  
Rajeshree Moodley

Awareness of oral health is essential for developing healthy habits, and a correlation between improved knowledge and better oral health has been shown to exist. Health-related behaviours are more likely to be followed if a person has greater control over their health with a better understanding of diseases and their aetiology. To determine the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding oral health care among undergraduate students in the Life Sciences Department at a University of Technology, Free State. This descriptive study gives insights into the oral hygiene knowledge, attitudes, and practices of undergraduate students in the Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Department of Life Sciences at a University of Technology. Data were collected using an online questionnaire eliciting quantitative and qualitative data. The results revealed that most of the participants, 80% (n=178) understood that oral health is essential to their overall wellbeing. Overall, in this research, the findings of oral health education were found not to be covered. However, we found that variations in the source of dental information were correlated with university students’ oral health behaviour. The study, therefore, concludes that oral health care knowledge, attitudes and practices are affected by education and show that advocacy for the promotion of oral health is significant for the students.


Author(s):  
Prakash Poudel ◽  
Rhonda Griffiths ◽  
Amit Arora ◽  
Vincent W. Wong ◽  
Jeff R. Flack ◽  
...  

This study assessed self-reported oral health status, knowledge, and behaviours of people living with diabetes along with barriers and facilitators in accessing dental care. A cross sectional survey of 260 patients from four public diabetes clinics in Sydney, Australia was undertaken using a 35-item questionnaire. Data were analysed using SPSS software with descriptive and logistic regression analyses. More than half (53.1%) of respondents reported having dental problems which negatively impacted their related quality of life. Less than half (45%) had adequate oral health knowledge. Only 10.8% reported receiving any oral health information in diabetes care settings, which had higher odds of demonstrating adequate oral health knowledge (AOR, 2.60; 95% CI, 1.06–6.34). Similarly, 62.7% reported seeing a dentist in the last 12 months. Having private health insurance (AOR, 3.70; 95% CI, 1.85–7.40) had higher odds of seeing a dentist in the past 12 months. Dental costs were a major contributor to avoiding or delaying dental visit. Patients living with diabetes have unmet oral health needs particularly around the awareness of its importance and access to affordable dental services. Diabetes care providers can play a crucial role in this area by promoting oral health to their patients.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 40
Author(s):  
RamandeepSingh Gambhir ◽  
AmanpreetKaur Bhangu ◽  
Mehraab Dhillon ◽  
KaranSingh Ghuman ◽  
Mandeep Kumar ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Chetanjit Baruah ◽  
Alpana P. Rabha ◽  
Hiranya Saikia

Background: Oral health is an integral part of general health and wellbeing of an individual at every stage of life. Good oral health knowledge is a requisite criterion for good oral health related behavior. So, this study was done to assess knowledge and practice about oral health and whether there is any difference of knowledge and practice about it among nursing and pharmacy students.Methods: A cross sectional study was done among 110 nursing and 90 pharmacy students in June 2019 by stratified random sampling method using a self-administered predesigned structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and chi-square test were applied using SPSS software.Results: Knowledge and practice of pharmacy students was found to be better than nursing students.Conclusions: Knowledge and practice of the students should be improved through health education.


2019 ◽  
Vol 72 (5) ◽  
pp. 1279-1287
Author(s):  
Cleina de Fátima Carvalho ◽  
Maria Amélia Zanon Ponce ◽  
Reinaldo Antonio da Silva-Sobrinho ◽  
Roberto Della Rosa Mendez ◽  
Mariana Alvina dos Santos ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the knowledge about tuberculosis among nursing undergraduate students of a Federal Higher Education Institution. Method: Descriptive cross-sectional study, with quantitative approach. Data were collected through a questionnaire based on the WHO’s guide to developing evaluation instruments on knowledge, attitudes and practices related to TB. Students were classified as “with knowledge” and “with little knowledge” based on the mean percentage of correct responses to the variables analyzed. Descriptive statistics techniques were used. Results: 60 nursing students were interviewed. “with little knowledge” was observed among students who were studying at the university for less time and who had no previous contact with the subject, and “with knowledge” was observed among those whose knowledge about tuberculosis was acquired in the health services. Conclusion: Knowledge gaps among undergraduate nursing students were identified, suggesting the need to rethink teaching-learning strategies on the subject.


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