Analysing the Attitudes of Qatari People toward Oral Health Instructions

Abstract

Background: Oral health instructions refer to the dental hygiene and care instructions that are devised by the dental health practitioners to the people that prevent them from periodontal diseases. Majority of the Qatari people need healthy, painless teeth, and are willing to seek information and professional help from the dentists/ oral hygienists. Objectives: To analyse the attitudes of Qatari people towards oral hygiene instructions. Methods and Materials: A cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted among 859 Qatari adults, aged between 18 and 72 years to analyse their attitudes towards oral health instructions. The data was analyzed using frequencies, percentages, Chi-square test and analysis of residual test. The quantitative research design is based on the data collection method carried out at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) where participants were recruited who was receiving dental appointments, as well as public and private dental clinics. Results: Findings of the study identified that Qatari people above 27 years of age, received formal education more than High school are more likely to show positive response on the instructions given by dentists or oral hygienists. It could be concluded that Qatari people need formal education and knowledge regarding the importance of oral health instructions so that they could follow the instructions for sufficient oral health and hygiene. Starting with formal education from Kindergarten will increase the knowledge of the important of oral health that will led to increase the attitudes toward oral hygiene instructions.