Oral health behaviour and its determinants amongst Iranian dental students1
- 12 January 2007
- journal article
- Published by Wiley in European Journal of Dental Education
- Vol. 11 (1), 42-47
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0579.2007.00424.x
Abstract
To study the oral health behaviour (OHB) of Iranian senior dental students in relation to their gender, background characteristics, knowledge of preventive care, and attitudes towards preventive dentistry. Using a cluster random sampling approach, a questionnaire survey was conducted with 327 senior dental students in seven dental schools. The questionnaire covered age, gender, parents' employment in dentistry, previous academic education in dental hygiene, oral self-care, most recent dental check-up, knowledge of preventive dentistry and attitudes towards it. Attending a dental check-up by a dentist or a classmate within the last year was defined as preventive care use. Chi-square test and logistic regression models were used for statistical analyses. Women reported significantly higher frequencies of tooth brushing (P < 0.001), fluoridated toothpaste use (P = 0.001) and flossing (P < 0.001) compared with men. Respondents who had been previously educated as dental hygienists had lower frequencies of eating sugary snacks (P < 0.001) and paid more attention to preventive care (P = 0.03) than others. Those with more extensive knowledge of preventive care reported higher frequencies of using fluoridated toothpaste (P = 0.05). Reported frequencies of brushing were higher amongst those with more positive attitudes (P = 0.03). In logistic regression models, having at least one parent employed as a dentist was significantly associated with higher frequencies of eating sugary snacks (P = 0.047, OR = 0.3) and more frequent preventive care use (P = 0.048, OR = 2.9). Education and training in preventive measures should be effective enough to overcome background characteristics. There is room for improving the OHB of Iranian dental students.Keywords
This publication has 27 references indexed in Scilit:
- Oral self‐care behaviours: comparing Greek and Japanese dental studentsEuropean Journal of Dental Education, 2005
- Sexual differences in oral health behaviour and factors associated with oral health behaviour in Japanese young adultsPublic Health, 2004
- Caries‐preventive effect of fluoride toothpaste: a systematic reviewActa Odontologica Scandinavica, 2003
- Assessing attitudes in dental education: Is it worthwhile?British Dental Journal, 2002
- Comparison of United States and Korean dental hygiene students using the Hiroshima University-Dental Behavioural Inventory (HU-DBI)International Dental Journal, 2002
- Oral self-care behavior among dental school students in Greece.Journal of Oral Science, 2002
- A cross-cultural comparison of dental health attitudes and behaviour among freshman dental students in Japan, Hong Kong and West ChinaInternational Dental Journal, 2001
- The determinants of dental health attitudes and behavioursBritish Dental Journal, 1999
- Behavioral research related to oral hygiene practices: a new century model of oral health promotionPeriodontology 2000, 1995
- Longitudinal study on oral health of dental students at Paris VII UniversityCommunity Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology, 1982