Oral Health Attitudes among Preclinical and Clinical Dental Students: A Pilot Study and Self-Assessment in an Egyptian State-Funded University.

Christof Dörfer,Sameh Attia,Mohamed Mekhemar,Kamal Ebeid,Jonas Conrad

doi:10.3390/ijerph18010234

Abstract

Dentists should present to patients as good role models in their oral health behaviour. Previous studies have demonstrated how education can improve dental students’ oral health. This pilot investigation aimed to compare and evaluate the features of the oral health behaviour and attitudes of preclinical and clinical dental students at Ain Shams University, a public Egyptian university. The Hiroshima University-Dental Behaviour Inventory (HU-DBI) survey was provided to 149 (78 female/71 male) dental students. Dichotomised (agree/disagree) answers to 20 HU-DBI items were possible, with a maximum conceivable score of 19. An estimation of oral health behaviour and attitudes was calculated by the sum of correct oral health answers to every item by the study groups and evaluated statistically. The score of oral health-favouring answers was higher in clinical (11.50) than preclinical students (10.63) and was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Single-item evaluations showed no statistical significance, except in one survey item. This survey exhibited weak differences in the improvement of oral hygiene behaviour and attitudes between participating preclinical and clinical students, as well as overall poor oral health behaviour in both groups. This inadequacy of Egyptian public dental education in terms of sufficient student oral health progress emphasises the necessity for supplementary courses and curricular reviews that accentuate the need for future dentists to display the correct oral health behaviour.

Highlights

Diseases and disorders of the oral cavity are amid the most pervasive conditions worldwide and produce abundant burdens in relation to wellbeing and economic difficulties, significantly decreasing the quality of life of those living in the affected countries and societies [1]
Single-item evaluations showed no statistical significance, except in one survey item. This survey exhibited weak differences in the improvement of oral hygiene behaviour and attitudes between participating preclinical and clinical students, as well as overall poor oral health behaviour in both groups. This inadequacy of Egyptian public dental education in terms of sufficient student oral health progress emphasises the necessity for supplementary courses and curricular reviews that accentuate the need for future dentists to display the correct oral health behaviour
These measures exhibit the self-perceived preference of oral healthcare professionals toward oral health and are translated practically through their oral health behaviour as they aim to become decent role models of the mindset and habits required for adequate oral health

Summary

Introduction

Diseases and disorders of the oral cavity are amid the most pervasive conditions worldwide and produce abundant burdens in relation to wellbeing and economic difficulties, significantly decreasing the quality of life of those living in the affected countries and societies [1]. Being one of the most effective approaches to educate the public about oral health, the self-applied oral hygiene measures and related behaviour and attitudes of dentists can immensely impact a society’s oral health [3]. These measures exhibit the self-perceived preference of oral healthcare professionals toward oral health and are translated practically through their oral health behaviour as they aim to become decent role models of the mindset and habits required for adequate oral health. Maintaining good attitudes and behaviour toward self-applied oral hygiene measures is one of the most important tasks of dentists in any society [3].

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion