Turkiye Klinikleri Journal of Dental Sciences

.: ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Oral Health-Related Attitude, Knowledge and Behavior Among Dentistry, Medicine and Pharmacy Students: A Cross-Sectional Study
Diş Hekimliği, Tıp ve Eczacılık Öğrencilerinin Ağız Sağlığı ile İlgili Tutum, Bilgi ve Davranışları: Kesitsel Araştırma
Mehmet Selim YILDIZa , Meltem MERT ERENb , Aliye Tuğçe GÜRCANc
aAltınbaş University Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Periodontology, İstanbul, Türkiye
bİstanbul Health and Technology University Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Restorative Dentistry, İstanbul, Türkiye
cPrivate Dentist, İstanbul, Türkiye
Turkiye Klinikleri J Dental Sci. 2025;31(2):250-8
doi: 10.5336/dentalsci.2024-106662
Article Language: EN
Full Text
ABSTRACT
 Objective: There is lack of sufficient published data in Türkiye to describe and compare the knowledge and attitudes of students from various faculties regarding their oral healthcare. Aim of this research was to assess and compare self-reported attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors related to oral health among cohort of dentistry, medicine, and pharmacy students, with purpose of increasing awareness of oral and dental health among participants themselves and indirectly within their social circles. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 354 preclinical students from the faculties of dentistry (n=127), medicine (n=113), and pharmacy (n=114). 28-question survey adapted from previous studies assessed oral health attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors. Survey was administered during scheduled class hours to ensure high response rate and consistent participation. Data were summarized using descriptive statistics, with Kolmogorov-Smirnov test applied to assess distribution, and KruskalWallis, Mann-Whitney U, chi-square tests used for group comparisons. Results: Satisfaction with teeth colour and appearance of smiles in photographs showed similar results across all groups. Female students exhibited significantly higher sensitivity towards daily brushing, flossing, and mouthwash usage, while male students were more inclined towards smoking (p<0.05). Dentistry students, in particular, demonstrated clear preference for sugarfree chewing gum. Brushing technique held greater importance for dentistry participants compared to other groups. Additionally, individuals with knowledge about interdental cleaning aids were more prevalent in dentistry group. Conclusion: The finding that awareness among dentistry students is higher than that of students from other faculties is noteworthy, as dentistry students receive coursework in the same field.

Keywords: Health knowledge-attitudes-practice; dental students; oral hygiene; medicine; pharmacy
ÖZET
 Amaç: Türkiye'de, öğrencilerin ağız ve diş sağlığı hakkındaki bilgi ve tutumlarını tanımlayıp karşılaştıracak yeterli yayımlanmış veri bulunmamaktadır. Bu araştırmanın amacı, diş hekimliği, tıp ve eczacılık fakültelerinde öğrenim gören öğrencilerin, ağız sağlığı ile ilgili kendi beyanlarına dayalı tutumlarını, bilgilerini ve davranışlarını değerlendirmek ve karşılaştırmak; böylece katılımcıların kendilerinde ve dolaylı olarak sosyal çevrelerinde ağız ve diş sağlığı konusunda farkındalığı artırmaktır. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Bu kesitsel çalışmaya, diş hekimliği (n=127), tıp (n=113) ve eczacılık (n=114) fakültelerinin klinik öncesi döneminde bulunan 354 öğrenci dâhil edilmiştir. Öğrencilerin ağız sağlığına yönelik tutumları, bilgileri ve davranışlarını değerlendirmek amacıyla, önceki çalışmalardan uyarlanmış 28 soruluk bir anket kullanılmıştır. Anket, katılımın tutarlı olmasını sağlamak ve yüksek yanıt oranı elde etmek amacıyla ders saatlerinde uygulanmıştır. Veriler tanımlayıcı istatistiklerle özetlenmiş, dağılımın değerlendirilmesinde Kolmogorov-Smirnov testi, gruplar arası karşılaştırmalar için ise Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney U ve ki-kare testleri kullanılmıştır. Bulgular: Dişlerin renginden ve fotoğraflardaki gülüşün görünümünden memnuniyet tüm gruplar arasında benzer sonuçlar göstermiştir. Kadın öğrenciler, günlük fırçalama, diş ipi kullanımı ve ağız çalkalama konusunda erkek öğrencilere göre belirgin bir şekilde daha hassastır, erkek öğrenciler ise sigara içme eğiliminde daha yüksektir (p<0,05). Diş hekimliği öğrencileri özellikle şekersiz sakız kullanımı konusunda net bir tercih göstermişlerdir. Fırçalama tekniği, diğer gruplara kıyasla diş hekimliği katılımcıları için daha fazla önem taşımaktadır. Ayrıca, interdental temizlik yardımcıları hakkında bilgi sahibi bireyler diş hekimliği grubunda daha yaygındır. Sonuç: Diş hekimliği öğrencileri arasında farkındalığın, diğer fakültelerdeki öğrencilere göre daha yüksek olduğunun bulunması dikkate değerdir, zira diş hekimliği öğrencileri aynı alanda ders işlemektedirler.

Anahtar Kelimeler: Sağlık bilgisi-tutumları-uygulamaları; diş hekimliği öğrencileri; ağız hijyeni; tıp; eczacılık
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