Postgraduate students' knowledge on oral health

ABSTRACT

Objective:This study aimed to evaluate the oral health knowledge of postgraduate students comparing the results according to the area (exact sciences, health and humanities). Material and methods: The descriptive study consisted of a questionnaire with 12 open and closed questions applied to 120 students enrolled in post-graduation courses at the University of Ribeirão Preto. All responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the comparison among the student's areas was performed using Chi-square test with 5% significance level of significance. Results: The results showed that the average age of participants was 30.8 years, but with statistically significant difference among the three areas (humanities - 32.8 years; health - 27 and exact - 30.8 years). The last visit to the dentist in the last 12 months for 48.7% of the graduates in the humanities, 69.0% in the health area and 74.4% in the exact area, in a private practice (43.6% of Human, 71.4% health and 79.5% exact area) (p<0.05). About what is plaque, 25.6% of graduates in humanities, 23.8% in health area, and 17.9% in exacts could not answer. Concerning to plaque removal, 43.6% of the humanity and health area graduate thought that only the dentist can remove it. Dental caries primarily occurs because of poor hygiene for 59.0% of the graduates in the humanities, 81.0% of health care and 69.2% of the exact area. About fluoride, most knew about their usefulness (prevention and protection), but 31.0% of the graduates in healthcare associated fluoride to cleaning. Statistically significant differences in the questions about knowledge were found. Conclusion: It was concluded that the knowledge presented by graduates was limited and incomplete, regardless of the area.