title: Malaysian undergraduates' knowledge and opinions on Early Childhood oral health.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In Malaysia, Early Childhood Caries (ECC) was found to affect 76.2% of 5-year-olds (2005). General  practitioners are more likely to encounter preschool children and are in a better position to educate parents and caretakers  about ECC and make appropriate referrals. This study assessed the knowledge and opinions on early childhood oral health  among medical and dental undergraduates.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross sectional study involved 245 students  enrolled in the first year medical (M1) and dental (D1) course and fourth year medical (M4) and dental (D4) course. The  students completed a self-administered questionnaire which included knowledge and opinions on early childhood oral  health. Comparisons between the groups were done using chi-square test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dental students showed significantly  better knowledge than medical students. D1 students showed significantly better knowledge of age of first tooth eruption  over M1. Knowledge of recommended age for bottle weaning was higher among D4 students but not significantly more than  M4 students.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The majority of medical students showed inadequate knowledge indicating that medical  curriculum should emphasise on oral health topics of public health relevance like ECC and its prevention. Dental students  had better knowledge regarding early childhood oral health, but lacked knowledge on its preventive aspects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Children's Dentistry and Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. shani_jacob@yahoo.co.in
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Mani
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Burhanudin
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: John
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001903:Bottle Feeding; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019140:Dental Care for Children; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D004497:Education, Dental; D004501:Education, Medical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D009909:Oral Health; D057566:Self Report; D013335:Students, Dental / Q000523:psychology*; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014078:Tooth Eruption / Q000502:physiology; D014886:Weaning; D055815:Young Adult