Oral & Dental Health Knowledge and Attitude among Nursing Students

Abstract

<p><em>Objectives: Investigate knowledge of oral health and oral diseases and attitudes about oral health care education among students of nursing, and willingness of students to introduce such training into their curriculum.</em></p><p><em>Methods: A cross sectional survey study was done on Jordan university nursing students using a questionnaire testing knowledge and attitude.</em></p><p><em>Results: 184 students completed questionnaires, for a response rate of 92%. No special modules were for the students. Poor knowledge score was obtained with score of 46% in general oral health, 48% in pediatric dentistry questions, 43% in dentistry related to systemic diseases questions. 90% of students believe that oral health care is a high priority and consider treatment in the oral cavity as much important as treatment in other parts of the body with 80% of students think that it is necessary to obtain Oral health curriculum education with appropriate curriculum competence level assessment Approximately 85% would like to obtain more Oral health curriculum education and to implement Oral Health Curriculum activities during their training and career. </em></p><p><em>Conclusions: Oral and dental health knowledge level was poor among nursing students. There is a need for oral and dental health structured training to be incorporated in the curriculum of nursing students at university level.</em></p>