ABSTRACT
Objective: To assess the Knowledge, Attitude and Practices towards Preventive dental care among dental interns in Kanpur, India. Methodology: A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based survey was conducted among 120 internship students of two dental colleges of Kanpur city. The participants were asked to provide demographic information, to respond to statements about their attitude towards preventive dentistry, and to answer questions regarding their perceived competence in applying preventive dentistry procedures. Results: Data from 120 dental internship students of Kanpur were analysed for this study, of which 65% were males and 35% of them were females. The most acknowledged aspects of preventive dentistry were being useful and essential to the community (100%,). The percentage of participants expressing a proficiency in providing dietary counselling and oral hygiene instructions was the highest (88.3% & 83.3% respectively). Conclusion: This study highlighted that the currently implemented undergraduate education programme in dental colleges in Kanpur does not provide dentists with the required attitude and skills to fulfil their role in providing preventive-oriented health services.
ABSTRACT
Background & Objective: The prevention and control of tobacco use is an emerging issue of global significance and of central importance to oral health and dental care. The dental profession is in an excellent position to play a major role in several emerging issues, such as helping the public and policymakers understand the chronic nature of tobacco dependence and supporting cessation services for all people. Objective is to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices of dental surgeons in Kanpur city towards tobacco cessation. Methodology: A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted among dental surgeons by using self-administered questionnaire with23 closed-ended questions. A total of100 dental practitioners who fulfilled the eligibility criteria, participated in the study. Out of this 85 people returned the filled questionnaire form and the response rate was 85%. Descriptive statistics included computation of percentages. Results: Most of the respondents were male (80%) and had practiced dentistry for 5-10 years (91.8%). All the respondents (100%) had the knowledge of harmful effects of tobacco use. A less percentage (8.3%) used tobacco themselves. All the respondents (100%) did not maintain any records on tobacco use. Most of the respondents (82.4%) provided information on harmful effects of tobacco to less than thirty percent of the patients. Only 48.2% dental surgeons advised users to quit. Conclusion: The results of this study call for sensitizing health professionals on a larger scale on the issue of tobacco use and its treatment.