Dental health knowledge, attitudes and behaviour among students at the Kuwait University Health Sciences Centre
Affiliations
Affiliations
- Faculty of Medicine, Health Sciences Centre, Kuwait University, Kuwait.
Abstract
Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the extent of dental health knowledge among students at the Kuwait University Health Sciences Centre (HSC), as well as their attitudes toward dental health and their oral hygiene habits.
Methods: A structured questionnaire was distributed to 450 of the 800 students enrolled in 3 faculties of the HSC from March to April 2000. The questionnaire was completed anonymously by the students.
Results: Four hundred and ten students (91.1%) completed the questionnaire. Of these, 64.6% believed that the main cause of tooth decay was 'not brushing properly'. Only 19.3% of the students believed that sugar could cause dental decay. Half of the students did not know if sugar-free drinks are harmful to their teeth, and 29.5% did not know about any measures to prevent gums from bleeding. Self-assessment questions showed that 84.5% of the students were satisfied with their dental health. A large majority of the students (94.8%) brushed their teeth at least once a day. Female students brushed their teeth more frequently than male students, as did those students who had visited a dentist in the past 6-12 months and those who rated their dental health to be very good. The main reason given for a dental visit was toothache (70.0%). Coffee was consumed daily by 68.9% of students, 76.6% of whom added sugar to their coffee.
Conclusions: The findings indicate that although most of the students at the HSC seem to be satisfied with their dental health, they did not have correct knowledge about the causes and prevention of dental diseases. In general, female students were more aware and concerned about dental health issues and more engaged in dental behaviour than male students.
Similar articles
Al-Ansari JM, Honkala S.J Allied Health. 2007 Spring;36(1):41-6.PMID: 17425190
Self-reported oral health, oral hygiene habits, and dental attendance of pregnant women in Kuwait.
Honkala S, Al-Ansari J.J Clin Periodontol. 2005 Jul;32(7):809-14. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-051X.2005.00770.x.PMID: 15966890
Knowledge of dental health and diseases among dental patients, a multicentre study in Saudi Arabia.
Almas K, Albaker A, Felembam N.Indian J Dent Res. 2000 Oct-Dec;11(4):145-55.PMID: 11307638
Hugoson A, Koch G, Göthberg C, Helkimo AN, Lundin SA, Norderyd O, Sjödin B, Sondell K.Swed Dent J. 2005;29(4):125-38.PMID: 16463569 Review.
Aguilar-Díaz FC, Ponce-Cruz YR, Mortellaro C, Giacomello M, Manfredi B, Khijmatgar S, Biagi R, Greco Lucchina A, Del Fabbro M.J Biol Regul Homeost Agents. 2021 Mar-Apr;35(2 Suppl. 1):163-171. doi: 10.23812/21-2supp1-16.PMID: 34281313 Review.
Cited by
Alkalash SH, Alfaqih AE, Alkinani AI, Alzahrani HM, Alrufaydi MH, Alqarni RS, Alrufaydi MH.Cureus. 2023 Jun 12;15(6):e40337. doi: 10.7759/cureus.40337. eCollection 2023 Jun.PMID: 37456401 Free PMC article.
Dental Health Knowledge Attitude and Practice Among University of Calabar Students.
Okoroafor CC, Okobi OE, Owodeha-Ashaka M, Okobi E, Oluseye B, Ekpang OB, Aya LE, Owolabi OJ, Oru-Betem TE, Nwafor JN.Cureus. 2023 Jun 6;15(6):e40055. doi: 10.7759/cureus.40055. eCollection 2023 Jun.PMID: 37425559 Free PMC article.
Development and Initial Validation of the Oral Health Activities Questionnaire.
Aranza D, Nota A, Galić T, Kozina S, Tecco S, Poklepović Peričić T, Milavić B.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 May 3;19(9):5556. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19095556.PMID: 35564951 Free PMC article.
Kaur K, Sculley D, Veysey M, Lucock M, Wallace J, Beckett EL.BMC Oral Health. 2021 Oct 29;21(1):553. doi: 10.1186/s12903-021-01910-8.PMID: 34715836 Free PMC article.
Oral Health Knowledge, Attitude, and Behavior of Nursing and Technical Students in Croatia.
Cabov T, Eljuga K, Fuchs PN, Devcic MK, Prpic J, Kovac Z, Puharic Z, Glazar I, Zulec M.Eur J Dent. 2022 Feb;16(1):102-108. doi: 10.1055/s-0041-1731852. Epub 2021 Aug 24.PMID: 34428841 Free PMC article.