Factors Affecting Behavior of Oral Health Care of Nursing Students, Faculty of Nursing Science, University of Health Science, Lao PDR / Lao Medical Journal

ABSTRACT

Background and rationale@#Many factors contributing to tooth decay and oral health problems. These includes economic, social and environmental factors. However, the key factors were unknown among nursing students in Lao PDR.@*Objective@#To assess the oral health status, oral care behaviors and factors affecting the oral health care behaviors of nursing students. @*Methodology@#This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. We interviewed and examined the nursing students at University of Health Sciences by completing questionnaires and performed oral examinations, estimating the Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth Index (DMFT) and Oral Hygiene Index (OHI). Data were analyzed using SPSS. The descriptive statistics and Chi-square test were used with P-value ≤ 0.05. @*Results@#Of the 200 students recruited, most were female (87.5%), and the median (range) age was 26 (17-45) years old. Tooth decay was noted in 67.0%, estimating the Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth Index was 3.11 per people per tooth and this was significantly associated with predisposing factors and reinforcing factors with a p-value <0.05. The students’ oral hygiene with good level was 61.0% and their oral hygiene index was 2.39. Knowledge, attitude and behavior in oral health care of the students were moderate (60.0%) and these were significantly associated with cleaning practice at p-value of 0.002.@*Conclusion@#This study shows that some factors are significantly associated with personal behavior, caries and oral hygiene practice in nursing students.