title: Opinion of residents from the Gold Coast, Queensland, on community water fluoridation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate opinions and concerns of Gold Coast residents regarding fluoridation of community water supplies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Anonymous data were collected in four major shopping centers from approximately 500 Gold Coast residents.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-one percent of participants were aware of the addition of fluoride to the water supply. More than half obtained information on water fluoridation through the print and electronic media. Sixty percent of respondents supported water fluoridation. The majority preferred the public and/or health professionals to have made the decision on water fluoridation rather than the government. The percentage of residents supporting water fluoridation was lower than that found in other Queensland, Australian, and worldwide surveys. In this study, only age and the highest level of education attained were factors significantly related to levels of support for water fluoridation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Queensland Government's decision to implement water fluoridation without a referendum caused disquiet amongst some Gold Coast residents. Future public health initiatives therefore may be assisted by more consultation with, and involvement from, health professionals in the relevant fields. Public health campaigns may benefit more from interaction with the community in order to address their specific concerns.
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry and Oral Health, Population and Social Health Research Programme, Griffith Health Institute, Griffith University, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Jeroen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kroon
authors.forename: Kate Emily
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Reid
authors.forename: Jenna Renae
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Cutting
authors.forename: Ratilal
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lalloo
authors.forename: Kandy Chien
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Chiu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003146:Communications Media; D054626:Consumer Health Information; D003657:Decision Making; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005457:Fluoridation / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006076:Government; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011639:Public Opinion; D011793:Queensland; D012449:Safety; D055815:Young Adult