Attitudes of dental and medical students in their first and final years of undergraduate study to oral health behaviour

Assessment of Differences in Oral Health Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behavior Among Preclinical and Clinical Dental Students

Aim To assess and compare differences in oral health knowledge, attitudes, and behavior among preclinical and clinical dental students of Dental Institute, Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India. Material and methods A total of 175 students responded to a total of 37 questions regarding their knowledge, attitudes, and behavior regarding dentistry and oral health. The mean percentage scores and standard deviation were calculated to assess the relation between knowledge, attitude, and behavior. Results It was observed that the students in the clinical phase had significantly better knowledge and attitude towards oral health than preclinical undergraduates. There was no significant difference in mean and SD among clinical and preclinical students in behavior while statistically significant differences were observed in their responses to questions related to knowledge (p = 0.000) and attitude (p = 0.007). Female students had better knowledge than male students (p = 0.029). Conclusion Clinical dental students of the institute showed a marginally higher KAP regarding oral health than preclinical students. This might reveal an ineffective transition of the students from the preclinical to the clinical stage. On intergender comparison, the females were better oriented than males towards oral health.

Assessment of knowledge, attitude and practice of medical and dental students about maintaining and disinfecting toothbrushes

INTRODUCTION

Proper toothbrush care and maintenance play an important role in oral health. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitude and practice of medical and dental students regarding the maintenance and disinfection of toothbrushes.

METHOD

This cross-sectional descriptive study examined 824 medical and dental students of Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran. Data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire and analysed using chi-square test and independent t-test. The level of statistical significance was considered to be <0.05.

RESULTS

Nearly 63.7% of the students had a good level of knowledge regarding toothbrush maintenance, 62.2% had a positive attitude toward toothbrush care, and 53.7% had a good practice. The mean scores of knowledge, attitude, and practice were significantly higher in dental, clinical, and female students as compared to medical, preclinical, and male students, respectively. Based on the results, about 54.3% of the students kept their toothbrushes outside the bathroom; 68% kept them vertically with the bristles upright; and 54% kept them in a separate container. Also, 50.6% of the students believed that toothbrush disinfection was necessary, while 31.9% believed that only certain groups of people needed toothbrush disinfection.

CONCLUSION

This study indicated the moderate level of knowledge, attitude, and practice of medical and dental students in maintaining and disinfecting their toothbrushes. The students' oral health habits were also at a moderate level; therefore, further improvements seem essential. To achieve this goal, educational intervention programs need to be developed in the future.

Oral Health Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors (KAB) of German Dental Students: Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study

Germany's 2030-oral health agenda incorporates behavioral targets such as twice-daily toothbrushing and routine dental check-ups. Given the professional and social roles of dentists in oral health promotion, the oral health-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors (KAB) of dentists and dental students became worth investigation. The present study was designed as a descriptive cross-sectional study that aimed to evaluate oral health KAB of German dental students using the Hiroshima University - Dental Behavioral Inventory (HU-DBI). A total of 508 dental students filled in the questionnaire, out of which 74.2% were females, 38.8% were clinical students, 11.4% reported tobacco smoking at least once week, 26.6% reported drinking alcohol at least once a week, and 82.9% reported suffering from problematic internet use. The overall HU-DBI score was high (7.67 ± 1.32), and it was slightly higher among females (7.70 ± 1.33) than males (7.59 ± 1.29), and gender-diverse students (7.33 ± 1.37). Clinical students (7.88 ± 1.26) had a significantly higher HU-DBI score, especially in the domain of oral health behaviors, compared with preclinical students (7.53 ± 1.34). A significant improvement in oral health behaviors and HU-DBI score was found between the third- vs. the fourth year, which corresponds to the period when prophylaxis, hygiene, and periodontology courses are delivered. Tobacco smoking was significantly associated with poor oral health knowledge, behaviors, and overall HU-DBI score. Problematic internet use and alcohol drinking had slightly lower HU-DBI scores. The findings of the present study call for early implementation of preventive dentistry elements in German curricula and addressing oral health needs of gender minorities in Germany by future epidemiologic studies.

Oral Health Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors (KAB) of German Dental Students: Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study

Germany's 2030–oral health agenda incorporates behavioral targets such as twice-daily toothbrushing and routine dental check-ups. Given the professional and social roles of dentists in oral health promotion, the oral health-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors (KAB) of dentists and dental students became worth investigation. The present study was designed as a descriptive cross-sectional study that aimed to evaluate oral health KAB of German dental students using the Hiroshima University – Dental Behavioral Inventory (HU-DBI). A total of 508 dental students filled in the questionnaire, out of which 74.2% were females, 38.8% were clinical students, 11.4% reported tobacco smoking at least once week, 26.6% reported drinking alcohol at least once a week, and 82.9% reported suffering from problematic internet use. The overall HU-DBI score was high (7.67 ± 1.32), and it was slightly higher among females (7.70 ± 1.33) than males (7.59 ± 1.29), and gender-diverse students (7.33 ± 1.37). Clinical students (7.88 ± 1.26) had a significantly higher HU-DBI score, especially in the domain of oral health behaviors, compared with preclinical students (7.53 ± 1.34). A significant improvement in oral health behaviors and HU-DBI score was found between the third- vs. the fourth year, which corresponds to the period when prophylaxis, hygiene, and periodontology courses are delivered. Tobacco smoking was significantly associated with poor oral health knowledge, behaviors, and overall HU-DBI score. Problematic internet use and alcohol drinking had slightly lower HU-DBI scores. The findings of the present study call for early implementation of preventive dentistry elements in German curricula and addressing oral health needs of gender minorities in Germany by future epidemiologic studies.

Czech and Slovak Dental Students' Oral Health-Related Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviours (KAB): Multi-Country Cross-Sectional Study

Dentists play a key role in the primary prevention of oral diseases and related systemic complications; therefore, their views on behavioural interventions need to be aligned with the current agendas for oral health. Likewise, dental students’ oral health-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours (KAB) are of practical importance, as they are the future opinion leaders for oral health in their respective communities. A cross-sectional survey-based study was designed to evaluate the oral health KAB of dental students in both the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The study utilized translated versions of the Hiroshima University Dental Behavioural Inventory (HU-DBI), and it aimed to recruit students from all Czech and Slovak dental schools. A total of 487 students were included in this study, out of which 372 (76.4%) were females, 271 (55.6%) were enrolled in preclinical years, 68 (14%) reported smoking tobacco at least once a week, and 430 (88.3%) reported problematic internet use. The mean HU-DBI score of Czech and Slovak dental students (8.18 ± 1.80) was comparable with the previously reported scores of dental students in Nordic and Western European countries. Czech students (9.34 ± 1.29) had a significantly higher score than their Slovak counterparts (7.56 ± 1.73). In both countries, preclinical students (8.04 vs. 8.35), the students who reported tobacco smoking (7.63 vs. 8.27), and those who reported problematic internet use (8.11 vs. 8.70) had significantly lower HU-DBI scores than their counterparts, respectively. In the Czech Republic, the significant increases in HU-DBI scores occurred after the first academic year when the students received preventive dentistry courses; therefore, one can put forward that early implementation of preventive elements in undergraduate dental curricula may yield better and more sustainable oral health gains for the students. Future research on Czech and Slovak dental curricula need to re-evaluate the oral hygiene and anti-smoking components and their impact on students’ views and attitudes.

Association of problematic Internet use and oral health-related quality of life among medical and dental students

BACKGROUND

The Internet as a communication tool is an essential component of daily life. Nowadays, problematic Internet use (PIU) has led to various psychosocial problems that can indirectly lead to oral diseases due to neglect of healthy behaviors. Also, college students are a large proportion of Internet users. The present study aimed to determine the association between problematic Internet use and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among medical and dental students.

METHODS

A cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study was conducted on medical and dental students in the first and second years of education (basic sciences courses) at the Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Iran, between January and July 2020. The data collection process was carried out in the following sequence: questionnaire on demographic characteristics (age, gender, marital status, academic field, and year); Problematic Internet Use Questionnaire (PIUQ); and Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) questionnaire.

RESULTS

Among 268 medical and dental students, 171 students (63.81%) [95% confidence interval: 58.02%- 69.60%] had problematic Internet use. The mean PIU score in the first-year was significantly higher than the second-year students. In addition, 65% of single students and 25% of married subjects were dealing with PIU. The statistical difference between mean OHIP scores among PIU students (12.5 ± 2.9), with average Internet usage (7.39 ± 6.6), was significant. The Spearman correlation coefficient between PIU and OHIP was 0.309 and significant (P-value < 0.000001). It indicates that students with higher PIU showed higher OHIP scores.

CONCLUSION

The present study showed that problematic Internet use was significantly associated with oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among first and second-year medical and dental students. Thus, the students with problematic Internet use experienced a poorer oral health-related quality of life than average Internet users. Furthermore, appropriate preventive and interventional strategies need to be developed to encourage rational use of the Internet to protect the users' oral health, especially among medical and dental students.

Evaluation of oral-health behavioral attitudes of dental students in Switzerland and Brazil

PURPOSE

This study evaluated the effect of progressive training on the oral health behaviors of dental students from Switzerland and Brazil.

METHODS

Dental students from two dental schools (in Zurich, Switzerland, and Goiania, Brazil) were recruited for this study. Dental behaviors of the students in the final 3 years of their 5-year dental curriculum were assessed with the 20-item Hiroshima University-Dental Behavior Inventory (HU-DBI). Nonparametric tests were used to assess intergroup and intragroup differences (significance level: α = 0.05).

RESULTS

190 students (Zurich: n = 121, mean age ± SD = 25.5 ± 4.5 years; Goiania: n = 69, mean age ± SD = 23.5 ± 2.9 years) of a possible 277 students completed the survey (response rate = 68.6%). The overall mean HU-DBI score was 8.16 ± 1.35 (8.02 ± 1.27 in Switzerland and 8.41 ± 1.47 in Brazil). Age (P = 0.225) and sex (P = 0.145) were not associated with the scores, but the respondent's nationality seemed to play a role (P = 0.024). Progressive training had no effect on the scores (P = 0.766).

CONCLUSIONS

The present findings show that progressive training has no effect on the oral health behaviors of dental students but the nationality might be a factor.

Oral Health-Related Quality of Life among Croatian University Students

Oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) is utilized in health services research to examine trends in oral health and population-based needs assessment. To determine the impact of oral diseases on everyday life, measures of oral quality of life are needed. In addition to common disease-based measures, they assess the need for oral care to evaluate oral health care programs and treatment management. The aim of this study was to evaluate the OHRQoL among Croatian university students. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 895 students (mean age 22 ± 4 years; 54.75% were females). The data collection was carried out through a self-administered short-form oral health impact profile (OHIP-14) questionnaire which comprises 14 items that describe 7 subscales. Each subscale is named according to its constitutive items: functional limitation, physical pain, psychological discomfort, physical disability, psychological disability, social disability and social handicap. The quality of data was descriptively analysed and internal consistency reliability was assessed by Chronbach’s alpha coefficient. Pearson’s correlation was performed on the OHIP-14 total score and 7 subscale scores. The level of significance was set to p < 0.05. The prevalence of reported impact on OHRQoL was 31.84% and the mean OHIP-14 score was 11.66 ± 8.72. Chronbach’s alpha for the OHIP-14 total score was 0.91 (range for subscales: 0.70–0.87). Total OHIP-14 score was correlated with each of the seven subscales (correlation range: 0.56–0.84). The psychological discomfort and physical pain subscales recorded the highest impact with 56.09% and 24.47%, respectively, while the least impact was recorded in the physical disability subscale with 13.35%. The mean OHIP-14 score of the students in this study reflects that the oral health status of most of the students did not significantly affect their OHRQoL. However, the psychological discomfort and physical pain subscales were the most severely affected aspects of their OHRQoL. The OHIP-14 had reasonable reliability in relation to subjective global oral health indicators among students and thus appears to be a useful OHRQoL measure in this context.

Complex interrelations between self-reported oral health attitudes and behaviors, the oral health status, and oral health-related quality of life

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to develop and test a moderated mediation model that was able to describe the relationships between oral health-related attitudes and behaviors, oral health status (OHS), and oral health-related quality of life. The hypothesized relations corresponded to research questions such as "is a person's oral health predicted by the actions that person takes in order to prevent oral health conditions?" and "do individuals with better oral health also have higher levels of oral health-related quality of life?".

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional correlational study with selected predictor variables was conducted in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, among 191 participants, enrolled in the fourth and sixth years of study at the Dentistry School of the Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Cluj-Napoca. Participants completed the Hiroshima University Dental Behavior Inventory (HUDBI) questionnaire targeting specific behavior and attitude with respect to their dental self-care, Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP) short questionnaire for measuring oral health-related quality of life, and the current OHS was assessed objectively using Decayed, Missing, Filled Teeth/Surfaces (DMFT) index. Statistical analyses were done using structural equation modeling software.

RESULTS

Our research showed relevant associations between HUDBI, DMFT, and OHIP. The relationship between HUDBI and OHIP was mediated by DMFT. Furthermore, HUDBI worked as a moderator between DMFT and OHIP. Thus, our study revealed a case for moderated mediation, which is usually ignored in similar research.

CONCLUSION

The "straightforward" causality between oral health-related behavior and the actual OHS must be considered with caution, as well as their impact on the oral health-related quality of life. Further research is needed to investigate the interaction between variables, the strength of the interrelations and the magnitude of their interactions, and the confidence that can be placed in these measurements, with respect to the general population and/or those lacking domain-specific education.

Knowledge about preventive dentistry versus self-reported competence in providing preventive oral healthcare - a study among Nepalese dentists

BACKGROUND

Dentists' and dental healthcare providers' professional knowledge and attitude towards the prevention of oral diseases may have an impact on the oral health of the general population. The aim of this study was to describe Nepalese dentists' competency in giving preventive education and treatment to their patients, and to assess their level of knowledge about preventive dental health.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study of 195 dentists (71 males and 124 females). Knowledge of preventive oral healthcare and self-reported aspects of preventive oral healthcare were assessed using a close-ended multiple-choice questionnaire. Statistical evaluation was done using chi-squared test, independent sample t-test and factor analysis as appropriate.

RESULTS

More than 90% of dentists self-reported to be competent in providing preventive treatment and oral hygiene education to their patients. Female dentists reported being more competent in giving oral hygiene education than their male counterparts (p = 0.045). Dentists scored a mean of 24.06 ± 3.8 [range (15-33)] out of 56 on knowledge based on self-reported awareness of seven different aspects of preventive dentistry. More than 70% of the dentists had relatively good knowledge regarding the use of fluoride, whereas the preventive knowledge in other aspects of dental health such as frequency of sugar consumption, xylitol use, dental visits, sealant, gingival health, dental and general health was found to be limited.

CONCLUSIONS

The majority of participating dentists reported a high level of general competency in providing preventive treatment and oral health education to their patients, whereas their knowledge was found to be limited in some aspects of preventive dentistry.

Oral Health Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices Among Dental and Medical Students in Eastern India - A Comparative Study

Objectives:

To compare oral health knowledge, attitude, and practices among dental and medical students in a Health care centre at Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.

Materials and Methods:

One hundred and fifty BDS and MBBS students each from Kalinga Institute of Dental Sciences and Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences of KIIT University, Bhubaneswar respectively, were invited to participate in this survey using a self-administered structured questionnaire in English comprising 27 questions, which was designed to evaluate the oral health knowledge, attitude, and practices. The obtained data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 20 software.

Results:

On comparison of the scores of knowledge, attitude, and practice, the mean knowledge score was significantly higher among dental students than medical students. The study also showed that female students (both dental and medical) had better oral health knowledge and showed better oral health practices than male students. Karl Pearson's correlation coefficient test showed that, although dental students had better knowledge and attitude towards oral health, there was a lack of adequate practice among them.

Conclusion:

Further emphasis on oral health is necessary in undergraduate training to improve oral health knowledge, attitude, and practice among dental and medical students as they will act as role models for oral health education among individuals and community at large.

Attitudes of Students of Differenet Schools of University of Zagreb on Tooth Bleaching

OBJECTIVE

To compare the awareness that students from four different faculties within the University of Zagreb have of oral health and tooth bleaching procedure.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study included 158 subjects (both male and female) - 38 students from the School of Dental Medicine and 40 students from each of the following faculties: the School of Medicine, the Faculty of Economics and the Faculty of Civil Engineering. The respondents were asked to fill out the survey with multiple choices by marking the answers they considered correct.

RESULTS

Only 12% of the respondents followed the information on oral health. More than two thirds of all subjects brush their teeth twice a day, but there were no statistically significant differences between the subjects with respect to college or gender. More than half of the participants (55%) were satisfied, and 12% were completely satisfied with their dental appearance. About 80% of the respondents were aware of differences between teeth bleaching and teeth polishing procedures, with greater prevalence among Dental Medicine and Medicine students. 80% of all subjects would go to a dental office if they decided to whiten their teeth while less than a half (46%) of all the subjects believed that a tooth bleaching has some adverse side-effects.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a difference in knowledge on oral hygiene and tooth bleaching between the students from the School of Dental Medicine, the School of Medicine, the Faculty of Economics and those from the Faculty of Civil Engineering. Dental students have the best knowledge on tooth bleaching and oral health, which was in accordance with their educational guidance and level of education.

Do dentists have better oral health compared to general population: a study on oral health status and oral health behavior in Kathmandu, Nepal

Background

Dentists are considered role models by the general population in regards to oral hygiene and oral health behavior. This study aimed to access the oral health status of dentists and laypersons, and compare the dentists’ practice of preventive dentistry and oral self-care behaviors to that of the laypersons.

Methods

This cross-sectional study recruited 472 participants (195 dentists and 277 laypersons from the general population). Their oral health/hygiene behavior was assessed using a standardized close-ended multiple choice questionnaire. Oral examination was performed to assess caries using Decayed Missed Filled teeth (DMFT) index and periodontal status using Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs (CPITN).

Results

Ninety-six percent of dentists brushed their teeth at least once daily, using fluoridated toothpaste and 80.5% twice daily. Although 94% of laypersons brushed their teeth once daily, they seldom used fluoridated toothpaste. Ten percent of participants in each group were caries free. The mean number of teeth present in the oral cavity (27.4 versus 25.4), mean number of teeth with caries (1.8 versus 3.7) and fillings (2.5 versus 0.4) were significantly different (p < 0.0001) between dentists and laypersons, respectively. Regarding the periodontal status, 82% of dentists had CPITN score of 0 whereas 71% of laypersons had the highest score 3 (p = 0.007), and 81% of the laypersons reported tooth mobility compared to 1% of dentists (p < 0.0001).

Conclusions

The participating dentists had better periodontal status and better self-reported oral health behaviors than the laypersons. Despite similar prevalence of caries in the two groups, the prevalence of decayed and unfilled teeth was lower among the dentists.

A comparative study of oral health attitudes and behavior using the Hiroshima University-Dental Behavioral Inventory (HU-DBI) between dental and civil engineering students in Colombia

The aim of this study was to use the Hiroshima University - Dental Behavioral Inventory (HU-DBI) to compare oral health attitudes and behavior of dental and civil engineering students in Colombia. The HU-DBI's survey consisting of twenty dichotomous responses (agree-disagree) regarding tooth brushing, was completed at University Antonio Narino for the dental students and the University of Cauca for the civil engineering students. The Spanish version of the HU-DBI questionnaire was taken by 182 of 247 dental students and 411 of 762 engineering students. The data was-statistically analyzed by the chi-square test and backward logistic regression. Compared to the engineering students, the dental students were more likely to agree with questions such as "I am bothered by the color of my gums"(OR = 2.2, 95% CI: 1.3-3.7),"I think I can clean my teeth well without using toothpaste" (OR = 3.0, 95% CI: 1.5-5.9), "I have used a dye to see how clean my teeth are" (OR = 2.9, 95% CI: 1.9-4.3), and "I have had my dentist tell me that I brush very well" (OR = 2.0, 95% CI: 1.3-3.1). The dental education curriculum in a dental school compared to a civil engineering school in Colombia indicated that a three-phase curriculum in didactics and clinics increased oral health attitudes and behavior from entry to graduation.

Determinants of preventive oral health behaviour among senior dental students in Nigeria

BACKGROUND

To study the association between oral health behaviour of senior dental students in Nigeria and their gender, age, knowledge of preventive care, and attitudes towards preventive dentistry.

METHODS

Questionnaires were administered to 179 senior dental students in the six dental schools in Nigeria. The questionnaire obtained information on age, gender, oral self-care, knowledge of preventive dental care and attitudes towards preventive dentistry. Attending a dental clinic for check-up by a dentist or a classmate within the last year was defined as preventive care use. Students who performed oral self-care and attended dental clinic for check-ups were noted to have complied with recommended oral self-care. Chi-square test and binary logistic regression models were used for statistical analyses.

RESULTS

More male respondents agreed that the use of fluoride toothpaste was more important than the tooth brushing technique for caries prevention (P < 0.001). While the use of dental floss was very low (7.3%), more females were more likely to report using dental floss (p=0.03). Older students were also more likely to comply with recommended oral self-care (p<0.001). In binary regression models, respondents who were younger (p=0.04) and those with higher knowledge of preventive dental care (p=0.008) were more likely to consume sugary snacks less than once a day.

CONCLUSION

Gender differences in the awareness of the superiority of using fluoridated toothpaste over brushing in caries prevention; and in the use of dental floss were observed. While older students were more likely to comply with recommended oral self-care measures, younger students with good knowledge of preventive dental care were more likely to consume sugary snacks less than once a day.

Determinants of dental health status and dental health behavior among Sana'a University students, Yemen

AIMS

To evaluate the dental health status and toothbrushing behavior among Sana'a University students, and to explore any associations with different factors.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, the dental health of 360 students from the dental, medical, and literature faculties (120 each) at Sana'a University were examined using the Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT) index. Data regarding study field, grade, toothbrushing behavior, parents' education, and smoking and khat chewing habits were recorded.

RESULTS

Nearly 76% of students (n = 273) reported regularly brushing their teeth. Excluding fathers' education levels and khat chewing, other factors (faculty, grade, sex, mothers' education, and smoking) were significant independent predictors for this behavior. The overall mean DMFT score (± standard deviation) was 4.13 ± 3.1, and was found to be adversely influenced by smoking, which explained only 1.1% of the variance. Toothbrushing, sex, and smoking were significant independent predictors for the decay score, and explained 10.6% of its variance. Khat chewing was found to be adversely associated with the missing score, with an influence of only 2.9%. The filling score was found to be positively associated with toothbrushing and study grade, which together had an influence of 10%.

CONCLUSIONS

The dental health and toothbrushing behaviors of Sana'a University students are unsatisfactory, and influenced unequally by different factors.

A comparative study of oral health knowledge, attitude and behaviour of first and final year dental students of Udaipur city, Rajasthan, India

OBJECTIVE

To assess and compare differences in oral health knowledge, attitudes and behaviour among first and final year dental students in Udaipur city, Rajasthan, India.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In a cross-sectional study, 182 first year students (59 males and 123 females) and 157 final year students (75 males and 82 females) of the two dental colleges in Udaipur city; Rajasthan, were surveyed using a self-administered structured questionnaire including 37 multiple choice questions pretested through a pilot survey. The data was analysed using the spss version 10.0. The mean percentage scores, standard deviation and frequency distribution were calculated. The Student's t-test and anova test were used as test of significance. The linear regression analysis were used to assess the relation of knowledge, attitude and behaviour.

RESULTS

The mean % score for oral health knowledge, attitude and behaviour were significantly higher in final year students compared to first year students (P < 0.001). The linear regression analysis showed a statistically significant linear relationship of attitude with the knowledge (P < 0.001) and behaviour with the attitude (P < 0.001) of the students.

CONCLUSION

Besides the positive changes revealed in the oral health knowledge, attitude and behaviour, among the students from first to final year of dental studies, preventive behaviour among the students could still be improved.

Oral health-related quality of life and its relationship with health locus of control among Indian dental university students

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this study were to assess the relationship between Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) and Health Locus of Control (HLC) among students in an Indian dental school.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cross sectional study design was used. Three hundred and twenty-five dental students returned completed forms containing the 14 item Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) and the 18 item Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale (MHLC).

RESULTS

The results showed that the perceived OHRQoL differed among students studying in different stages of the dental course. The OHRQoL dimensions of 'Social Handicap' and 'Handicap' were significantly (P < 0.01) lower among the later years of the course than the freshman year students. There was a sharp increase in Self-reported dental problems, in particular, Malocclusion, Tooth decay, Calculus among the third year and final year students respectively. The OHIP-14 scores were significantly higher among those with self-reported oral problems. Correlation analysis between the OHIP-14 and the MHLC scores also showed a statistically significant (P < 0.01) correlation between the 'Chance' dimension of the MHLC and OHIP-14 scores.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study underscored the relationship between the OHRQoL and HLC and of importance of assessing health attitudes and their impact on OHRQoL among the dental student community.

Oral Health Knowledge and Behavior of Clinical Medical, Dental And Paramedical Students In Mangalore

Medical, Dental and Paramedical students play an important role in oral health care and promotion. Learning in these professional institutions becomes ineffective unless it leads to a profound change in student's behavior and attitude towards improvement of their own personal health. This study aims to find out the difference in oral health knowledge and behavior of clinical medical, dental and paramedical students in the Yenepoya Educational Institutions, Mangalore.