Knowledge, Attitude and Practice on Preventive Dentistry among Senior Dental Students in Yemen
Keywords:
preventive dentistry - attitude - dental students - dental education - Yemen.Abstract
Introduction
There is a strong and increased worldwide interest on the aspects of prevention of oral disease and oral health promotion in dental education. However, some studies imply that dental students are not knowledgeable enough in this issue. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge of, attitude towards and practice on preventive dentistry among senior dental students in Yemen.
Methods
Self-administered questionnaires were distributed among senior dental students in six dental schools in Yemen. The questionnaire obtained personal information, and questions about knowledge on preventive dental care, attitudes towards and practice on preventive dentistry.
Results
Among 346 students who filled the questionnaire, a total of 91.6% has good knowledge about fissure sealant effectiveness, only 34.7% knows about the importance of fluoride toothpaste compared to brushing technique in preventing caries, with significant gender difference (p=0.005). Odds of good knowledge among non-Qat chewers was 1.9 (95%CI: 1.26-4.42). Multivariable regression analysis indicated that female gender was associated with higher positive attitudes (OR: 2.03, 95%CI:1.21-3.36,p=0.007). Attitudes were significantly associated with Qat chewing (OR = 1.95, 95%CI: 1.04-3.66, p=0.03), type of university (OR = 0.59, 95%CI: 0.36-0.94, p=0.02), and mothers' level of education (OR = 1.91, 95%CI: 1.05-3.47, p=0.03). There was a high percentage of competency in practicing preventive measures among students (80.9%).
Conclusions
Dental education should emphasize the overall aspects of preventive dentistry with early exposure of preventive dental training in order to improve students' knowledge and attitudes and consequently practice on preventive care.
References
Petersen PE. The World Oral Health Report 2003: continuous improvement of oral health in the 21st century–the approach of the WHO Global Oral Health Programme. Community Dentistry and oral epidemiology. 2003;31(s1):3-24.
Levin L, Shenkman A. The relationship between dental caries status and oral health attitudes and behavior in young Israeli adults. Journal of dental education. 2004;68(11):1185-91.
Harris NO, GarcÃa-Godoy F, Nathe CN. Primary preventive dentistry: Pearson/Prentice Hall; 2004.
Association AD, Center ADAHPR. Future of Dentistry: Today's Vision, Tomorrow's Reality: American Dental Association; 2001.
Suga USG, Terada RSS, Ubaldini ALM, Fujimaki M, Pascotto RC, Batilana AP, et al. Factors That Drive Dentists towards or Away from Dental Caries Preventive Measures: Systematic Review and Metasummary. PloS one. 2014;9(10):e107831.
Sato M, Camino J, Oyakawa HR, Rodriguez L, Tong L, Ahn C, et al. Effect of Dental Education on Peruvian Dental Students’ Oral Health-Related Attitudes and Behavior. Journal of dental education. 2013;77(9):1179-84.
Peker I, Alkurt MT. Oral health attitudes and behavior among a group of Turkish dental students. European journal of dentistry. 2009;3(1):24.
Burt BA. the caries decline: a review of reviews. European Journal of Oral Sciences. 2007.
Petersen PE, Estupinan-Day S, Ndiaye C. WHO's action for continuous improvement in oral health. Bulletin of the World Health Organization. 2005;83(9):642.
Brown G, Manogue M, Rohlin M. Assessing attitudes in dental education: is it worthwhile? British dental journal. 2002;193(12):703-7.
McGlone P, Watt R, Sheiham A. Evidence-based dentistry: an overview of the challenges in changing professional practice. British dental journal. 2001;190(12):636-9.
Alâ€Haddad K, Alâ€Hebshi N, Alâ€Ak’hali M. Oral health status and treatment needs among school children in Sana’a City, Yemen. International journal of dental hygiene. 2010;8(2):80-5.
Al-Haddad KA, Ibrahim YT, Al-Haddad AM, Al-Hebshi NN. Assessment of gingival health status among 5-and 12-year-old children in Yemen: a cross-sectional study. ISRN dentistry. 2013;2013.
Al-Mugahed L. Khat chewing in Yemen: turning over a new leaf. Bulletin of the World Health Organization. 2008;86(10):741-2.
Al-Kholani AI. Influence of khat chewing on periodontal tissues and oral hygiene status among Yemenis. Dental research journal. 2010;7(1):1.
Al-Sharabi AK, Shuga-Aldin H, Ghandour I, Al-Hebshi NN. Qat chewing as an independent risk factor for periodontitis: a cross-sectional study. International journal of dentistry. 2013;2013.
Gorsky M, Epstein JB, Levi H, Yarom N. Oral white lesions associated with chewing khat. Tobacco induced diseases. 2004;2(3):1-6.
Ghasemi H, Murtomaa H, Torabzadeh H, Vehkalahti MM. Knowledge of and attitudes towards preventive dental care among Iranian dentists. European journal of dentistry. 2007;1(4):222.
Khami M, Murtomaa H, Razeghi S, Virtanen J. Attitude towards preventive dentistry among Iranian senior dental students. Journal of dentistry (Tehran, Iran). 2012;9(4):189.
Kerosuo E, Kervanto-Seppälä S, Pietilä I, Meurman JH. Pit and fissure sealants in dental public health–application criteria and general policy in Finland. 2009.
Nilchian F, Kazemi S, Abbasi M, Ghoreishian F, Kowkabi M. Evaluation of Isfahan’s Dental Students’ Awareness about Preventive Dentistry. Journal of Dentistry. 2014;15(1):1.
AlSwuailem AS, AlShehri MK, Al-Sadhan S. Smoking among dental students at King Saud University: Consumption patterns and risk factors. The Saudi Dental Journal. 2014.
Smith DR, Leggat PA. An international review of tobacco smoking among dental students in 19 countries. International dental journal. 2007;57(6):452-8.
Yildiz S, Dogan B. Self reported dental health attitudes and behaviour of dental students in Turkey. European journal of dentistry. 2011;5(3):253.
Halboub E, Al-Mohaya M, Abdulhuq M, Al-Mandili A, Al-Anazi Y. Oral squamous cell carcinoma among Yemenis: onset in young age and presentation at advanced stage. Journal of clinical and experimental dentistry. 2012;4(4):e221.
Sood P, Narang R, Swathi V, Mittal L, Jha K, Gupta A. Dental patient's knowledge and perceptions about the effects of smoking and role of dentists in smoking cessation activities. European Journal of Dentistry. 2014;8(2):216.
Rahman B, Al Kawas S. The relationship between dental health behavior, oral hygiene and gingival status of dental students in the United Arab Emirates. European journal of dentistry. 2013;7(1):22.
Sharda AJ, Shetty S. Relationship of periodontal status and dental caries status with oral health knowledge, attitude and behavior among professional students in India. International journal of oral science. 2009;1(4):196.
