scholarly journals Oral health knowledge and practices of clinical medical and dental students in a North- Eastern Nigerian University

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-45
Author(s):  
Y Janada ◽  
I.P. Ikhodaro ◽  
O Ibiyemi

Objective: Medical and dental students as future health care professionals should be aware of adequate oral health care. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the knowledge and practices of oral health of clinical medical and dental students in a North-Eastern Nigerian University.Methods: Cross sectional study involving 150 students, comprising 107 medical and 43 dental students. They were interviewed on knowledge of oral health care, oral health practices and psychosocial impact of oral health using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. The students were further examined for dental caries and their oral hygiene status. The Student t-test was used to compare means while Chisquare test was used to test associations between categorical variables at p<0.05.Results: The mean ±SD age of the students was 24.5 , males constituted 61.3%. One hundred and twentysix (84.0%) students had good knowledge of oral health care. Forty-two (97.7%) of the dental students had good knowledge while 84 (78.5%) of the medical students had good knowledge (p=0.003). Twenty (46.5%) and 60(56.1%) of dental and medical students respectively had poor oral health practice (p=0.32). Mean ±SD psychosocial impact score was 1.26 ±2.06 and 1.53 ±2.34 for dental and medical students respectively (p=0.68). The prevalence of dental caries and poor oral hygiene was 15(34.9%) and 23(53.5%) for dental students. The corresponding value for medical students were 30(28.0%) and 51(47.6%).Conclusions: There was good knowledge of oral health care among these students. Dental students had better knowledge of oral health care than medical students. They also had better oral health care practices and lower psychosocial impact of oral health than medical students though not statistically significant. Overall, younger age group of students reported higher psychosocial impact of oral health care on daily activities than older ones.Keywords: Oral health, knowledge, behaviour, medical, dental, students, Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (6) ◽  
pp. 29-31
Author(s):  
Omer Bin Zahid ◽  
Ajwa Rehman ◽  
Hassan Jamil ◽  
Muhammad Shoaib ◽  
Mehak Bilal ◽  
...  

Introduction: Despite the great leaps in oral health globally, many countries of the world still face a horde of dental problems. Especially poverty ridden populations of the developing nations. Distribution of oral disease varies among different communities and sometimes even in the same community due to various environmental factors, factors of personal hygiene and oral habits among different demographics. However, the condition of oral health in the patients of Lahore is abysmal as determined by various previous dental surveys. The prevalence of cavities in dental patients is 82.3% while the rest of 17.7% have swollen gums, abscess, infection, and pain. Thus, this study aims to test the barriers in the way of regular dental care by evaluating a major portion of medical and dental students by using a cross sectional, questionnaire-based study, and to make regular dental care more accessible to the students of this metropolis. Objective: To determine the factors that become a hurdle in the way of regular dental care among the medical and dental students of Lahore and to pave the way for further studies on this topic. Methodology: This survey, after approval from the Internal Review Board of de’Montmorency College of Dentistry, was carried out from July to October 2021. Sample size was calculated using OpenEpi, keeping the confidence level at 95% and the margin of error at 6%. The sampling population included 234 respondents who were randomly selected from 4 different medical and dental colleges of Lahore including both public and private sector colleges. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire titled; Questionnaire for Assessment of Perceived Oral Health Care Needs, Barriers to Accessing Oral Health Care Services and Its Utility8. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS® version 22. Result: All of the participants were students of medical and dental colleges of Lahore. More than half of the participants agreed to have not visited a dentist regularly for regular checkups for maintenance of oral health. About 55% of the participants agreed to not visiting a dentist due to fear of infection transmission. We also found a significant association between the stream of education and regular dental visits (p=0.000). Conclusion: For medical and dental students, the biggest barrier in regular oral healthcare is fear of infection transmission, and unavailability of time. However, fear of dental procedures and high cost of service also play a role. Moreover, the high cost of service is not as strong of a factor as it is for the general population.


2021 ◽  
pp. 238008442110126
Author(s):  
J.L.P. Protudjer ◽  
C. Billedeau ◽  
K. Hurst ◽  
R. Schroth ◽  
C. Stavropoulou ◽  
...  

Introduction: Rates of periodontal disease and tooth loss are increased in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Understanding factors that contribute to the increased burden of periodontal disease in RA is critical to improving oral health and arthritis outcomes. Objectives: To determine the perceptions held by people with RA relating to their oral health, to identify patient-centered priorities for oral health research, and to inform optimal strategies for delivering oral health knowledge. Methods: Semistructured interviews were conducted with patients with RA. Recorded interview transcripts were iteratively reviewed to reveal surface and latent meaning and to code for themes. Constructs were considered saturated when no new themes were identified in subsequent interviews. We report themes with representative quotes. Results: Interviews were conducted with 11 individuals with RA (10 women [91%]; mean age, 68 y), all of whom were taking RA medication. Interviews averaged 19 min (range, 8 to 31 min) and were mostly conducted face-to-face. Three overall themes were identified: 1) knowledge about arthritis and oral health links; 2) oral health care in RA is complicated, both in personal hygiene practices and in professional oral care; and 3) poor oral health is a source of shame. Participants preferred to receive oral health education from their rheumatologists or dentists. Conclusions: People with RA have unique oral health perceptions and experience significant challenges with oral health care due to their arthritis. Adapting oral hygiene recommendations and professional oral care delivery to the needs of those with arthritis are patient priorities and are required to improve satisfaction regarding their oral health. Knowledge Translation Statement: Patients living with long-standing rheumatoid arthritis described poor oral health–related quality of life and multiple challenges with maintaining optimal oral health. Study findings indicate a need for educational materials addressing oral health maintenance for patients with rheumatic diseases and their providers.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fouad Salama ◽  
Bader Al-Balkhi ◽  
Faika Abdelmegid

Objectives. The purpose of this pilot study was to assess the knowledge and awareness of dental students with respect to oral health care of the person with special health care needs (SHCN) and evaluate effectiveness of an education program on improving their knowledge.Method. An evaluation consisting of a questionnaire was answered before and immediately after a 30-minute educational presentation in the form of a DVD that includes a PowerPoint and a video of oral health care for individuals with SHCN. The questionnaire was based on the materials and information presented in the DVD and included 26 questions (true/false/I do not know).Results. The mean (±SD) score on the pretest was 10.85 (±5.20), which increased to 16.85 (±5.47) on the posttest. This difference was statistically significant (P<0.001). Forty percent of the students surveyed reported that they were very satisfied with the educational part of the presentation, while 50% were somewhat satisfied. Thirty percent of students expressed that the educational intervention used is very effective.Conclusions. Viewing the educational intervention was effective in informing the sophomore students and providing them with instructive basic information on person with SHCN. Dental colleges should increase students’ knowledge, training, and exposure to individuals with SHCN.


2015 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 105-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
C Zhong ◽  
KN Ma ◽  
YS Wong ◽  
Y So ◽  
PC Lee ◽  
...  

Objective: Pregnancy gingivitis and early childhood caries remain prevalent in Hong Kong. The aim of this study was to assess pregnant women's knowledge and beliefs related to pregnancy gingivitis and children's oral health. Study design: An outreach survey was carried out in a clinic that provided antenatal examination. A written oral health questionnaire related to pregnancy gingivitis and early childhood caries was administered to pregnant women. Of the 106 pregnant women who enrolled in the study, 100 completed the questionnaires. Results: Among the 100 subjects, only 39% correctly identified that hormonal changes contribute to pregnancy gingivitis. Only 36% identified red and swollen gums as signs of gingivitis. Furthermore, 53% of the surveyed pregnant women were not sure about the amount of toothpaste to administer to a child aged 18 months to 5 years. Almost 50% assumed that a replanted avulsed tooth would probably not survive within a short extra-alveolar period of less than 60 minutes. Conclusion: Prenatal women generally lack knowledge of a common oral disease that occurs during pregnancy and of what constitutes adequate oral health care for children. Oral health care education should be implemented as part of a prenatal care program.


2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Noorhazayti Ab. Halim ◽  
Rashidah Esa ◽  
Md Muziman Syah

Introduction: Attending regular dental check-up is very important to pregnant women. However, many women do not utilize oral healthcare services during the antenatal period. It had been reported in Health Information Management System report (MOH, 2007) that the attendance of antenatal mothers to dental clinic were unsatisfactory. Therefore, the aim of this research was to explore the perception of antenatal mothers towards oral health care. Materials and Methods: In-depth interviews were carried out with a convenience sampling of 20 antenatal mothers across three government health clinics in Selangor, Malaysia. The interview using guided questions which explored participant’s oral health knowledge, attitude and oral health practice. All interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed by thematic analysis. The interviews were carried out until the saturation of information were achieved. Results: The main themes emerging from the data related to low oral health knowledge, poor attitude and oral health practices during pregnancy. Although all participants have basic knowledge of dental caries development, however, many of them unaware of the significance of preventive dental visits during pregnancy. Poor attitudes and oral health practices among antenatal mothers in this study were due to they had not received the necessary oral health information. Conclusion: Antenatal mother’s perception of oral health care crucially impacts on oral health status, continuity of utilization of oral healthcare services and hence pregnancy outcome. Their views provided a baseline information for planning and formulating appropriate oral health education and promotion strategies.


2010 ◽  
Vol 74 (11) ◽  
pp. 1190-1196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mina Habibian ◽  
Laura Elizondo ◽  
Roseann Mulligan

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