Knowledge on tooth avulsion in a population of students enrolled in health science programs in Brazil / Conhecimento sobre avulsão dentária de uma população de estudantes de cursos de saúde do Brasil

ABSTRACT

Aim: To evaluate the level of knowledge on tooth avulsion among undergraduate students enrolled in Nursing, Physical Education, and Dentistry programs at the Caruaru Association of Higher Education (ASCES), as well as to analyze these results according to the variables of age, gender, prior information, and prior experience at the time when the questionnaire was applied. Materials and Methods: A multiplechoice, structured questionnaire was administered to students at three different time moments at the beginningof the study, immediately after a lecture on tooth avulsion, and 3 months later in Caruaru, PE, Brazil. The significance level was set at 5%. Results: Results showed that the knowledge of students at the beginning of the study was low. However, the mean number of correct answers increased significantly for all three groups of students immediately after the lecture; 3 months later, almost all classes still showed significantly higher mean results when compared to findings from the beginning of the study. Students with prior experience, or whohad received information previously, attained a significantly higher average of correct answers. Conclusion: The level of knowledge on tooth avulsion at the beginning of the study was low for the students of Physical Education and Nursing as compared to dental students. An increased amount of time devoted to theoretical and practical teaching activities on tooth avulsion during college and after graduation would be extremely important to consolidate such knowledge.