Oral health behaviour and its determinants amongst Iranian dental students.
OBJECTIVE
To study the oral health behaviour (OHB) of Iranian senior dental students in relation to their gender, background characteristics, knowledge of preventive care, and attitudes towards preventive dentistry.


METHODS
Using a cluster random sampling approach, a questionnaire survey was conducted with 327 senior dental students in seven dental schools. The questionnaire covered age, gender, parents' employment in dentistry, previous academic education in dental hygiene, oral self-care, most recent dental check-up, knowledge of preventive dentistry and attitudes towards it. Attending a dental check-up by a dentist or a classmate within the last year was defined as preventive care use. Chi-square test and logistic regression models were used for statistical analyses.


RESULTS
Women reported significantly higher frequencies of tooth brushing (P < 0.001), fluoridated toothpaste use (P = 0.001) and flossing (P < 0.001) compared with men. Respondents who had been previously educated as dental hygienists had lower frequencies of eating sugary snacks (P < 0.001) and paid more attention to preventive care (P = 0.03) than others. Those with more extensive knowledge of preventive care reported higher frequencies of using fluoridated toothpaste (P = 0.05). Reported frequencies of brushing were higher amongst those with more positive attitudes (P = 0.03). In logistic regression models, having at least one parent employed as a dentist was significantly associated with higher frequencies of eating sugary snacks (P = 0.047, OR = 0.3) and more frequent preventive care use (P = 0.048, OR = 2.9).


CONCLUSIONS
Education and training in preventive measures should be effective enough to overcome background characteristics. There is room for improving the OHB of Iranian dental students.
Khami
Mohammad R
MR
Institute of Dentistry, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. mohammad.khami@helsinki.fi
Virtanen
Jorma I
JI
Jafarian
Mohammad
M
Murtomaa
Heikki
H
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003729:Dental Care / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D009909:Oral Health; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011313:Preventive Dentistry; D013335:Students, Dental / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires