scholarly journals Gender-Specific Oral Health Attitudes and Behavior among Dental Students in Jordan

2005 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 107-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Quasem Diefallah Al-Omari ◽  
Abed Al-Hadi Hamasha

Abstract The aim of this study was to determine the difference in oral health attitudes and behavior between male and female dental students at Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST). A self-administered questionnaire based on a modified version of the Hiroshima University Dental Behavior Inventory (HU-DBI) was distributed among 375 dental students. The response rate was 83.7% with 48% males and 52% females responding. Female students reported brushing their teeth more frequently than male students (P<0.001). Approximately 47% of the male students brushed their teeth less than twice daily compared to 21% of the female students. Also, female students believed in the necessity of using toothpaste during brushing more often than male students (P<0.01). On the other hand, smoking was much more frequent among males than among females (31% vs. 4%) (P<0.001). Male students indicated they had been smoking for longer periods of time than female students. This survey shows male students visit the dentist only when they have dental pain. While this was more than their female peers, it was not statistically significant (P= 0.056). In general the present study showed dental students in Jordan had poor oral health. Further research is needed to examine the students clinically for periodontal and caries conditions. Students should be encouraged to be a model for oral health for their families, friends, and patients. Citation Al-Omari QD, Hamasha AA. Gender-Specific Oral Health Attitudes and Behavior among Dental Students in Jordane. J Contemp Dent Pract 2005 February;(6)1:107-114.

2011 ◽  
Vol 05 (02) ◽  
pp. 163-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Neeraja ◽  
G Kayalvizhi ◽  
P Sangeetha

ABSTRACTObjectives: To evaluate self-reported oral health attitudes and behavior among a group of dental students in Bangalore, India and to compare the oral health attitudes of students of different years of dental school. Methods: A self-administered questionnaire based on a modified version of the Hiroshima University Dental Behavior Inventory (HU-DBI) was administered to 250 dental students. Results: Significant differences (P<.05) were observed among students of different years in the degree of worrying about the color of the teeth, not having been to the dentist before and brushing each tooth carefully. Strongly significant differences (P<.001) were observed among students of different years in brushing the teeth twice daily, being satisfied with the appearance of the teeth, cleaning the teeth well without toothpaste, visiting dentist only when having a toothache, taking too much time to brush their teeth, worrying about having bad breath and using mouth rinse on a regular basis. Conclusions: Among dental students, the overall knowledge of oral health was good, even though there were deficits in knowledge in a few areas. The oral health attitudes and behavior of dental students improved with increasing levels of education. (Eur J Dent 2011;5:163-167)


2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esam S. Halboub ◽  
Sadeq A. Al-Maweri ◽  
Aisha A. Al-Jamaei ◽  
Mohammed A. Al-wesabi ◽  
Anas Shamala ◽  
...  

<p><strong>Objectives</strong><strong>:</strong> To assess self-reported oral health attitudes and behavior among undergraduate dental and medical students, and to analyze the variations in oral health attitudes based on gender, level of education, study discipline, academic average, and type of university.</p><p><strong>Methods</strong><strong>:</strong> A self-administered questionnaire based on the Hiroshima University-Dental Behavioural Inventory (HU-DBI) was distributed to 1269 undergraduate dental and medical students at two universities (one public and one private) in Sana’a, Yemen.</p><p><strong>Results:</strong> Overall, the mean questionnaire score for the total sample was markedly low (4.91±1.58), with no significant difference between dental and medical students (P&gt;0.05). Females had better oral health attitudes and behavior, especially towards visiting the dentist, tooth-brushing habits and oral hygiene practices (P&lt;0.05). Students attending the public university had better oral health attitudes and behaviors than those attending the private university (P=0.049). On the other hand, no significant associations were observed between students’ oral health attitudes/behavior and level of education and academic performance (P&gt;0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusion:</strong> Yemeni dental and medical students have shown markedly poor oral health attitude and behavior. Further studies are required to reveal possible shortcoming in these schools’ education process. Dental and medical curricula should emphasize the importance of proper oral hygiene, and further participation of medical and dental students in oral hygiene seminars is highly encouraged.</p>


2013 ◽  
Vol 07 (01) ◽  
pp. 022-027 ◽  
Author(s):  
Betul Rahman ◽  
Sausan Al Kawas

ABSTRACTObjective: The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of knowledge acquired in preventive aspects of dental education on dental students’ own health attitudes, oral hygiene and gingival status in the United Arab Emirates.Methods: To compare the self-reported oral health behavior of first year dental students in the University of Sharjah with their actual oral hygiene and gingival conditions, 93 volunteers who participated in the study completed the Hiroshima University-Dental Behavioral Inventory (HU-DBI) questionnaire. Subsequently a clinical examination for their Plaque Scores (Modified Quigley Hein Plaque Index) and Gingival Bleeding Index was performed by a calibrated dentist.Results: 29% of the participants reported bleeding gums; 83% were concerned by the color of their gums while 63% reported that it was impossible to prevent gum disease with brushing alone; and only 10% noticed some sticky white deposits on their teeth. However, approximately 92% were not in agreement that they would have false teeth when they grew older. 56% mentioned that they used dental floss regularly and 86% brushed twice daily or more. Male students had higher bleeding and plaque scores than female students. There appeared to be a significant relationship between plaque scores and HU-DBI responses; in addition to the significant relationship noted between recorded bleeding percentages and HU-DBI responses.Conclusion: Female students have shown better dental care behavior than male students. The dental students with better self-reported oral health attitudes were expected to have lower plaque scores but instead had moderate plaque and gingival bleeding scores. This indicates the need for more emphasis on preventive measures in oral health education. (Eur J Dent 2013;7:22-27)


2013 ◽  
Vol 77 (9) ◽  
pp. 1171-1178 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Badovinac ◽  
Darko Božić ◽  
Ivana Vučinac ◽  
Jasna Vešligaj ◽  
Domagoj Vražić ◽  
...  

2015 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 100-103
Author(s):  
Ramona Ionela Truţă ◽  
◽  
Viorica Milicescu ◽  

Aim. The purpose of this study was to examine and health attitudes/behavior of Romanian dental students (n = 110). Materials and methods. A questionnaire known as HU-DBI (Romanian version) was administered to 110 students in the last year of studies. In the same time was evaluated the prevalence of dental caries and some correspondence between the HU-DBI index and oral health status for every student. The questionnaire was administered after their written informed consent. Dental caries status was evaluated using the world health Organization (WHO) caries diagnostic criteria for decayed, missing and filled teeth and surfaces (DMF-T and DMF-S, respectively). Data were statistically analyzed. Results. The prevalence of dental caries was 60% only 6.7% (8 students) had DMF-T = 0. The mean DMF-T recorded was 7.3 (± 0.35). When relating the different DMF values to the HU-DBI responses, a statistically significant relation was found between seven items and DMF scores of their components and indices. The HU-DBI score ranged from 6 to 12 (mean 9.8). Low DS and DT values significantly correlated with a high total HU-DBI score (p < 0.05); that is subjects with low levels of dental disease had more positive oral health attitudes and behavior. Conclusions. The positive attitude of dental students towards the care of their own teeth and gums is important in determining the oral health conditions of their patients. In passing through the curricles the dental students should be able to set a personal example in oral health.


2009 ◽  
Vol 03 (01) ◽  
pp. 24-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilkay Peker ◽  
Meryem Toraman Alkurt

ABSTRACTObjectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate self-reported oral health attitude and behavior among a group of Turkish dental students and to compare differences in oral health attitudes between years of study and gender.Methods: This study included 267 (153 female, 114 male) dental students. A modified English version of Hiroshima University Dental-Behavioral Inventory (HU-DBI) which consists of twenty-eight dichotomous responses (yes-no) was used.Results: Totally 141 preclinical (1, 2 and 3rd years of study) and 126 clinical students (4 and 5th years of study) who were mean age of 21.16 participated in the study. Statistically significant differences were found between years of study for brushing each of teeth carefully, cleaning the teeth well without using toothpaste, using a toothbrush which has hard bristles and for having had their dentist tell that they brush very well. There were statistically significant differences between females and males for using a toothbrush which has hard bristles and using tooth floss regularly. Statistically significant differences were found for brushing each of the teeth carefully and using mouth wash on regular basis between smokers and non-smokers.Conclusions: This study confirmed that oral and dental health behavior and attitudes and also their knowledge about oral and dental health care of dental students improved with increasing level of education while oral and dental health care of female students were better than males and oral and dental health care of non-smokers were better than smokers. (Eur J Dent 2009;3:24-31)


2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 22
Author(s):  
Riya Agrawal

Introduction: Attitudes & behavior towards their own oral health affect their oral health habits and also have a possible influence for the improvement of the oral health of their patients and society.Aim: To evaluate oral health attitude & behavior among a group of dental students of one of the dental colleges of M.P. & to compare a difference in oral health.Material & Method: A descriptive cross study was carried out between 200 dental students of people dental academy Bhopal M.P. India. Subjects were divided into 2 groups, i.e. group 1 pre-clinical group (first & second year) group 2 clinical group (third & fourth year). A self-administered questionnaire consisting of 13 questions on attitudes and practice towards oral health care.Results: In the present study, 130 students were from preclinical group, and 70 students were from clinical group. Most of the students brush their teeth once daily for 2 min following roll technique of brushing before breakfast using only toothpaste as a cleaning aid. All students from clinical years routinely examined their oral cavity while most of the students visited the dentist only when required. Majority of students considered oral health as important as general health and believed that oral health affects the general health. Students were also aware of the harmful effects of tobacco while only few of them were indulged in them.Conclusion: With increasing years of the study, some aspects of dental student's oral health attitude and behavior improved but this improvement was limited. Thus, the students should be motivated to become an example of oral health in the society, for which few steps to motivate them toward better oral health are proposed.


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