Practice Of Undergraduate Students Research Articles

Knowledge and lifestyle practices associated with non-communicable diseases risk factors among undergraduate students, Thiruvananthapuram, India: a mixed method study

Background: Behaviors established in youth especially in college, have lifelong implications on themselves and their close family members. We intended to assess the knowledge of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) risk factors and associated lifestyle practices among undergraduate students. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional concurrent mixed method study among undergraduate students (n=486) aged 18-21 years, Kerala, India. A self-administered structured questionnaire was used to collect data. In-depth interviews of five students were conducted from each college. Physical measurements including height and weight of the students were measured and reported to the participants. Data was collected from January to March 2019. Results: Forty-four percent (n=200) participants’ fathers were laborers or semi-skilled workers. Only 42.8% (n=208) of students had body mass index (BMI) within normal range. Nearly three fifth of students (58%, n=282) had poor knowledge of NCDs and proportion of students with knowledge of balanced breakfast was 11% (n=53). Regarding lifestyle practices, daily fruit intake was low (10%, n=45) and participants consuming vegetables daily was less than 40% (n=191). Lack of infrastructure supporting physical activities and healthy food choices at home and outside are some reasons mentioned by participants for sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy dietary practices. Parental involvement played an important role in practicing healthy dietary practices and performing physical activity for leisure. Conclusions: The knowledge and practices of undergraduate students regarding primary prevention of NCDs was poor. Community level action with involvement of parents will be helpful in the primary prevention of NCDs.

ATTITUDES AND PRACTICES TOWARDS THE CREDIT-MODULE SYSTEM AMONG UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

Background: The Credit-Module System (CMS) has been applied in various countries in order to increase students’ independence and all-round competence. Based on CMS, students can take courses of their choice, learn at their own pace, and take additional courses. Students are the center of this educational system. Thus, undergraduate students’ attitudes and practices towards this system are critical in determining their academic achievement and quality of education. Objectives: to investigate the attitudes and practices of undergraduate students towards CMS. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional descriptive correlational design was used. The sample size comprised 242 undergraduate students at Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy, including nursing, midwifery, medical laboratory technology, and medical imaging technology, who have experienced CMS for at least 1 year. Students’ attitudes and practices regarding CMS were examined using a 5-likert questionnaire including 20 items for attitudes and 37 for practices. Results: 222 (91.7%) students had positive attitudes towards CMS, with the mean score of the attitude was 79.4+13.5/100. 91.7% of students had positive attitudes towards the advantages of the CMS, and 89.7% of students were willing to participate in learning activities of the CMS. In practice, students also showed a good level (mean=147.4+17.6/185). 81.8% and 18.2% of students were at a good and moderate level of practice, respectively. Among subscales of practice, students’ practices with examination and practicum activities had the highest scores. Meanwhile, practices with theory classes were the lowest. There was a significantly positive association between students’ attitudes and practices of CMS. Conclusions: Most undergraduate students had positive attitudes towards CMS. Despite showcasing a generally good level of practice among student respondents, practices with theory classes should be enhanced. Support and counseling services are recommended to improve students’ positive attitudes and good practices towards CMS.

Knowledge Assessment of Biomedical Waste Management of Dental Materials in Dakshina Kannada

Abstract Aims and Objective The present survey was done to assess the knowledge, awareness, and practice of undergraduate students, postgraduate students, and practitioners about disposal of common biomedical wastes and materials used in dentistry regularly. Materials and Methods The survey (23 questions) was conducted on 162 participants categorized as undergraduates (n = 54), postgraduates (n = 54), and practitioners (n = 54) to assess their knowledge, awareness, and practice. Results When questioned whether they were aware of disposal of waste according to color categories, 69.8% were aware of it, 2.5% were not, and 27.8% were not sure of the color-coded categories. When subjected to statistical analysis, the data were found to be statistically significant (p = 0.017). Only 58% were aware that the number of categories of biomedical waste management is divided into four categories based on new regulations. There was statistical significance between the scores of undergraduates and practitioners (p = 0.046). Conclusion There is a gap between knowledge and implementation of segregation of waste at source; certified carrier service should make sure all the wastes are segregated from the dental practitioner's premise with an update on dental materials segregation for dental clinics and laboratories. Frequent updates of biomedical management of waste rules should be performed by the certified carrier.

KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF UG STUDENTS TOWARDS FAILURE OF AMALGAM RESTORATION & IT'S PREVENTION

Aims and objective - This study aims to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of Undergraduate students towards failure of class I and class II amalgam restoration in permanent molars and the method used for its prevention. Methodology - An online survey was conducted among 128 Undergraduate students (2nd year, 3rd year, 4th year and interns) of the institute Rajarajeshwari Dental College and Hospital, using a 14-point Questionnaire, statistical analysis, descriptive statistics and inferential statistics (Chi Square Goodness of Fit Test). The level of signicance (P-value) was set at P< 0.05. Conclusion - Longevity of any restoration depends upon several factors and as we know that amalgam as a restorative material has been used in dentistry for about more than 150 years now and it is still being used because of its low cost, strength & longevity. But certain factors have proven to be the reason for failure of amalgam restoration. For a long time, people have been using different preventive measures to eradicate these reasons and to increase the life of amalgam restoration. This study concludes about the most common signs and reasons seen and known by the current learning and practising Undergraduate students for failure of amalgam restoration.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices of undergraduate students and dentists about dental prenatal care.

Prenatal care is a fundamental moment for health promotion to be carried out, since at that moment women are more receptive to new knowledge, with the aim of providing better healthcare for the baby. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes and practices of undergraduate students and professionals, both from the public and from private sectors in Brazil, regarding dental prenatal care. This study corresponded to an online questionnaire survey, via Google Forms, consisting of 17general questions for undergraduates (n=103) and 16 for professionals (n=227) for demographic and school mapping, and 18specific questions about the importance and protocol of dental prenatal care. T-test, Mann-Whitney U-test and multiple linear regression were adopted (p<.05). The average total score of the questionnaire for students and professionals was 12.40 and 15.65, respectively (p<.0001), indicating moderate knowledge. Professionals showed a higher prevalence of moderate (77%) and high (2%) knowledge of the subject when compared to undergraduate students (51% and 0% respectively). The graduation period in which the students were enrolled was a predictor of the total score of the questionnaire [F (1, 101)=21.21; p<.0001; R2 =.165]. The female gender and the lower weekly workload were the main predictors of the total score of the questionnaire for professionals [F (3, 223)=6.74; p<.0001; R2 =.083]. Although professionals have greater knowledge about dental prenatal care than students, there are still deficiencies in the knowledge and practices of them in respect of dental management during pregnancy. Higher education institutions need to change the teaching-learning plan regarding the holistic dental approach for women during pregnancy.

Oral health knowledge, attitudes, and practices of undergraduate students at a South African University of Technology

Awareness of oral health is essential for developing healthy habits, and a correlation between improved knowledge and better oral health has been shown to exist. Health-related behaviours are more likely to be followed if a person has greater control over their health with a better understanding of diseases and their aetiology. To determine the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding oral health care among undergraduate students in the Life Sciences Department at a University of Technology, Free State. This descriptive study gives insights into the oral hygiene knowledge, attitudes, and practices of undergraduate students in the Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Department of Life Sciences at a University of Technology. Data were collected using an online questionnaire eliciting quantitative and qualitative data. The results revealed that most of the participants, 80% (n=178) understood that oral health is essential to their overall wellbeing. Overall, in this research, the findings of oral health education were found not to be covered. However, we found that variations in the source of dental information were correlated with university students’ oral health behaviour. The study, therefore, concludes that oral health care knowledge, attitudes and practices are affected by education and show that advocacy for the promotion of oral health is significant for the students.

Effectiveness of a Mobile App CANScreen on Selected Common Cancer Screening Procedures and Preventive Measures in terms of Knowledge and Practice among Undergraduate Students

Introduction: Cancer affects all walks of life. To reduce cancer mortality, it is of extreme importance that people should be made aware, and the required prevention methods and treatment should be provided at the proper time. This study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of CANScreen app on selected common cancer screening procedures and preventive measures in terms of knowledge and practice among undergraduate students.Method: The research approach was a quasi-experimental approach.One group pre-test post-test design was used. 126 samples were recruited through stratified random sampling. Seven tools were used for data collection. Ethical approval was taken from the institutional ethics committee and administrative approval was taken from the college authority. Results: The mobile app CANScreen was effective in improving both knowledge and practice of undergraduate students regarding selected common cancer screening procedures and preventive measures. The mean post-test knowledge score was 22.91 and the mean post-test practice score was 45.94. There was a positive correlation (0.21) between knowledge and practice after the administration of CANScreen. There was a significant association between post-test knowledge scores and selected variables such as stream of study, year of study, and presence of healthcare professionals in the family. There was also a significant association between post-test practice scores and selected variables such as gender. 72% of the users accepted the mobile app CANScreen to a great extent.Conclusion: Educating the young generation with similar new technology will motivate them to lead a life with the awareness of cancer screening and prevention methods

Management of extracted human teeth by dental students in East Coastal Region of India

Background: Dental students practice on extracted human teeth (EHT) in their preclinical to learn professional and technical skills before performing dental procedures on patients. Aim: The aim of the present investigation was to assess the management of EHT among dental students in the east coastal region of India. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on II, III, and IV Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) students from five dental colleges in India's east coastal region, which were chosen using the fishbowl technique. Data was collected using a pretested, validated self-administered questionnaire and analysed using the Chi-square test, Mann–Whitney test, Kruskal–Wallis test, and linear regression. Results: A total of 649 students participated from five dental colleges, among them, 43.6% (283) were II BDS, 29.6% (192) were III BDS, and 26.8% (174) were IV BDS. About 66% of the participants do not know that the EHT are a source of infection; 22% of them noted that there was an incidence of infection with the use of EHT; 81.5% do not know that guidelines have to be given by the regulatory body/institution to handle EHT. Only 2% of the people think it was necessary to disinfect/sterilize EHT before use, while 33% of the study population felt that there was a need to wear mouth masks and gloves while working on EHT. In the study group, only 43% know that formalin was used as a storage/disinfecting medium for EHT and 80% of them experienced hazards due to chemicals used for storage/disinfecting medium of EHT. Conclusion: The results of this investigation stipulated that awareness, attitude, and practices of undergraduate students in relation to the handling of EHT were poor. However, deficiencies were observed in relation to teaching the materials and methods suitable for the management of EHT which reveals the need to incorporate the guidelines in their curriculum.

Comparing the Psychological Effects of Meditation- and Breathing-Focused Yoga Practice in Undergraduate Students.

ObjectivesThe present study aimed to compare the psychological effects of meditation- and breathing-focused yoga practice in undergraduate students.MethodsA 12-weeks yoga intervention was conducted among a group of undergraduate students enrolled in four yoga classes at an academically prestigious university in Beijing, China. Four classes were randomized to meditation-focused yoga or breathing-focused yoga. A total of 86 participants finished surveys before and after the 12-weeks intervention, measuring work intention, mindfulness, and perceived stress. The repeated-measure multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) followed by univariate analyses were conducted to examine the differences in work intention, mindfulness, and stress between the two yoga intervention groups over the semester, after controlling for age and gender.ResultsThe repeated-measure MANCOVA revealed significant group differences with a median effect size [Wilks’ lambda, Λ = 0.90, F(3, 80) = 3.10, p = 0.031, η2 = 0.104]. Subsequent univariate analyses showed that students in the breathing-focused yoga group had significant higher work intentions [F(1, 82) = 5.22; p = 0.025; η2p = 0.060] and mindfulness [F(1, 82) = 6.33; p = 0.014; η2p = 0.072] but marginally lower stress [F(1, 82) = 4.20; p = 0.044; η2p = 0.049] than students in the meditation-focused yoga group.ConclusionYoga practice with a focus on breathing is more effective than that with a focus on meditation for undergraduates to retain energy for work, keep attention and awareness, and reduce stress.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Undergraduate Students Regarding Toothbrush Contamination and Disinfection

Background: Toothbrushes play a significant role in disease transmission as they act as a reservoir for microorganisms and aid in increasing the risk of infection in any individual. In recent years, the necessity of toothbrush disinfection has gained importance. Toothbrush disinfection should be recommended as a routine practice for all individuals.This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of undergraduate students regarding toothbrush contamination and disinfection.Materials and methods: This study involved 446 undergraduate students between the age group of 18 to 23 years. A validated questionnaire was used to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of undergraduate students regarding toothbrush contamination and disinfection. The study showed that 24.89% of the students disinfected their toothbrushes and 75.11% did not use any disinfectant. 78.92% of the students feel that bacteria as the main mode of toothbrush contamination. 84.40% of the students feel that the disinfection of the toothbrush is necessary whereas 15.69% feel that toothbrush disinfection is not necessary. 61.29% of students did not know toothbrush disinfection.Conclusion: Fewer students have sufficient knowledge about toothbrush contamination and practice the disinfection methods, whereas the majority of the students are unaware of the contamination of toothbrushes and the use of disinfectant methods

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of undergraduate students concerning Regenerative Endodontics.

Knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs of the students are important for the Tissue Engineering in Endodontic practice. The opinion of these future dentists would ultimately will decide the endurance of REPs as routine procedures in endodontic practice. The aim of this study was to perform a survey to identify the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of undergraduate students about regenerative endodontic procedures (REPs). The questionnaire was obtained after cross-cultural adaptation of a questionnaire previously applied in USA and was applied to two hundred forty-eight undergraduates. Data were statistically analyzed. Most of the students (82.9%) agreed that regenerative therapy should be incorporated to dentistry and 87.5% of them believed that stem cells banks would be useful for the tissue regeneration. Most participants (58.1%) would like to obtain an internship/tutoring that addresses REPs and 80.8% of participants think that the major obstacle to a patient accepting a REP was the expected high cost of the treatment. The freshmen students were more optimistic about offering stem cell treatments to their patients (P≤0.05). The undergraduates were very optimistic about the future of REPs, stem cell banking, and tissue engineering. Although seniors demonstrated less enthusiasm towards REPs than the freshman, most students are willing to recommend these treatments to their patients.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of Sexually Transmitted Infections: Perceptions of Sexual Behaviour among Undergraduate Students in Lokoja, Nigeria

Background: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a major problem among Nigerian adolescents, with serious complications arising from untreated cases. Considering the growing trend of unprotected sex in this vulnerable population, it is pertinent to carry out interventions aimed at increasing awareness measures and lowering the disease burden.Aims: To assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of undergraduate students regarding STIs, including HIV/AIDS.Study Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study.Place of Study: Federal University, Lokoja, Nigeria.Duration of Study: Between October 2016 and March 2017.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional population-based study using self-administered structured questionnaires was carried out. A total of 370 undergraduate students were purposively selected to participate in the study. Data were analysed using SPSS software. Statistical measures like frequency, percentage and mean were tabulated.Results: Out of the 370 students that participated in this study, only 66.2% knew the full meaning of HIV/AIDS. The internet was the most common source of STI knowledge (92.2%). A number of misconceptions were commonly reported among the respondents: 82.4% believed STIs could be transmitted by sharing a toilet seat, while 20.3% believed witchcraft was a means through which STIs could be transmitted. Only 22.2% knew that premature birth was a complication of untreated STIs. 83.5% believed there was a cure for all STIs, including HIV/AIDS. 70.5% were worried about getting STIs when having unprotected sex. 77.8% were sexually active. As much as 79.7% had their first sexual encounter before their twentieth birthday. 74.9% had multiple sex partners. Only 18.9% used a condom every time they had sex. 45.9% used alcohol and/or other hard drugs before having sex. Only 44.3% had been tested for HIV.Conclusion: Lack of in-depth knowledge about STIs coupled with risky sexual behaviours among undergraduate students of Federal University, Lokoja call for urgent measures to address the unfortunate trend.

Bin monsters for promoting waste separation behavior

ABSTRACTThe aim of this study was to explore the application of recycling bins to improve waste separation practices of undergraduate students from the Department of Environmental Science in the Faculty of Science at Chulalongkorn University. Bin monsters, waste separation bins shaped like monsters, were created by 11 undergraduate students in the Environmental Science Communication course. The results showed that most participants (undergraduate students from the Department of Environmental Science) had a good working knowledge of waste separation and a positive attitude toward recycling. However, their sorting behavior did not correspond with their knowledge or attitude. To increase their awareness and improve their behavior in solid waste separation, the program should be continued and more bin monsters should be deployed.

Nursing, respiratory care, and social work undergraduate students practice, attitudes, and knowledge/ skills with evidence-based practice

Nursing, respiratory care, and social work undergraduate students practice, attitudes, and knowledge/ skills with evidence-based practice

Knowledge, Attitudes and Practice of Undergraduate Students in University of Nigeria Enugu campus (UNEC) towards Hepatitis B

Knowledge, Attitudes and Practice of Undergraduate Students in University of Nigeria Enugu campus (UNEC) towards Hepatitis B

Motivational Factors and Effects Associated with Physical-sport Practice in Undergraduate Students

Abstract Current high level of physical inactivity in undergraduate students is due to reasons that can be classified into external barriers such as time, lack of social support or internal barriers such as apathy toward physical activity. These obstacles may vary depending on the cultural and social context, age and gender of students. The purpose of this study was to identify the specific motivational factors and effects associated with physical-sport practice in undergraduate students, a literature review was developed, focusing on motivational student's perceptions and effects, and identifying research gaps for further researches. The lifestyle-related health and active behavior of an undergraduate student is complex, since it depends on motivational factors for physical practice as extrinsic factors (disease prevention, fitness) and intrinsic factors (pleasure, wellness, stress management), highlighting in students the motivation to achieve their goals, enjoyment or pleasure in practicing an activity. Among the results, students who participate in physical-sport practice are more physically active, so it is important to develop and encourage current programs to maximize their retention, stimulate self-motivation, feelings of autonomy, self-confidence and relatedness and work team.

Oral health practices and oral hygiene status of undergraduate students at Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Background: Good oral hygiene is necessary for optimal oral health and sound systemic health. Oral hygiene practices of undergraduates in various disciplines are well documented, but little is known about their oral hygiene status in relation to the oral hygiene practices. Objective: The objective of the present study was to determine the oral hygiene status and practices of undergraduate students at the Obafemi Awolowo Obafemi University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Methods: Demographic details and oral health practice information were obtained from consenting participants using structured, examiner-administered questionnaires. The participants were randomly selected from all the university undergraduate students and examined. Oral hygiene status was determined using simplified Green and Vermilion Oral Hygiene Index (OHI). Data were analysed using STATA 11 statistical software. Results: A total of 150 participants, comprising 78 (52.0%) females and 72 (48.0%) males, participated in the study. The mean (standard deviation) age of the participants was 22.8 (2.7) years with a median age of 23 years. Seventy-three (48.7%) of the 150 participants had good oral hygiene with mean OHI of 0.86 (0.9). Majority (148, 98.7%) of the participants cleaned their teeth with toothpaste and toothbrush. Seventy (46.6%) attended dental care only on account of pain. Faculty of Dentistry had the highest proportion of students with good oral hygiene. Conclusions: Less than 50% of the participants had a good oral hygiene. This was rather not encouraging for undergraduate students. The fact that Faculty of Dentistry had the highest proportion of students with good oral hygiene suggests that long-term exposure to oral health education and knowledge of good oral health practices are important for oral health hygiene. This was supported by the fact that those with longer stay in university had higher proportion of students with oral hygiene.

Physical exercise practice and associated factors among undergraduate students from a southern region of Brazil

PurposeThe aim of the study was to analyse the prevalence and factors associated with not performing physical exercise in undergraduate students.MethodsThe sample was composed of 2738 undergraduate students of Londrina city, Paraná, Brazil. The dependent variables were: not performing physical exercise of moderate intensity for at least 30 minutes per week; not performing vigorous physical exercise for at least 20 minutes per week; not performing muscular strengthening exercises (8–12 repetitions) in a week. The independent variables were gender, age, skin colour, marital status, housing, study pattern, year of course, paid work, and area of the course. Odds ratio (&lt;i&gt;OR&lt;/i&gt;) was estimated by multivariate analysis with the use of binary logistic regression.ResultsThe prevalence of undergraduate students not performing physical exercise of moderate intensity, of vigorous intensity, or muscular strengthening exercises was 47.3, 61.0, and 66.2%, respectively. Female sex was associated with a risk of not performing moderate physical exercise (&lt;i&gt;OR&lt;/i&gt; = 1.23), vigorous physical exercise (&lt;i&gt;OR&lt;/i&gt; = 1.47), and strengthening exercises (&lt;i&gt;OR&lt;/i&gt; = 1.22). Undergraduate students of exact sciences (&lt;i&gt;OR&lt;/i&gt; = 1.40 and 1.52), juridical sciences (&lt;i&gt;OR&lt;/i&gt; = 1.48 and 1.51), and humanities (&lt;i&gt;OR&lt;/i&gt; = 1.45 and 1.52) were at risk of not performing physical exercise of moderate or vigorous intensity, respectively. Being a 2nd (&lt;i&gt;OR&lt;/i&gt; = 0.79), 3rd (&lt;i&gt;OR&lt;/i&gt; = 0.74), or 4th (&lt;i&gt;OR&lt;/i&gt; = 0.71) year student was bound with a lower likelihood of not performing physical exercise of moderate intensity.ConclusionsIntervention programmes with the aim of promoting physical exercise practice in undergraduate students should consider gender, year, and area of the course.

A Proposed Blended Course Design for Inter-Professional Education: Using Inquiry to Develop Critical Thinking for Inter-Professional Practice in Undergraduate Students

A Proposed Blended Course Design for Inter-Professional Education: Using Inquiry to Develop Critical Thinking for Inter-Professional Practice in Undergraduate Students

English

Objective: This study sought to explore the drug use practices of undergraduate students within the Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica . Method: This study was a multicentre study carried out in Jamaica and six Latin American countries. The study utilized a cross-sectional design using a survey method of data collection. A list of compulsory classes for first- and second-year undergraduate students in the Faculty of Medical Sciences was retrieved by researchers and then cluster sampling was used to choose lectures to carry out data collection. The instrument utilized for the study was a self-report questionnaire which consisted of 58 questions which enquired about sociodemographic information, psychoactive substance use and associated consequences. Results: A total of 380 students (78 males, 302 females) participated in the study; 115 (30.3%) reported a past year prevalence of psychoactive substance use. Roughly half (50.8%) reported that they first used substances when they were 15 −19 years old. Students also reported a past month prevalence of alcohol use (16.6%), prescription drugs without a prescription (4.5%), tobacco (2.4%) and cannabis (2.1%) use. Conclusion: These preliminary results on substance use patterns among students in the Faculty of Medical Sciences indicate urgent need for further research among this population. Such research should be used to inform prevention and treatment programmes that will directly target this student population.