title: Knowledge, attitude, behavioural response and use of preventive measures regarding pandemic H1N1 influenza outbreak among dental students in Udaipur city, India.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the knowledge, attitude, behavioural response and use of preventive measures regarding a pandemic H1N1 influenza outbreak among dental students.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a cross-sectional study, a total of 448 dental students (118 in preclinical categories, 330 in clinical categories) were surveyed using a self-administered, structured questionnaire pretested through a pilot survey.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 448 dental students, 92.6% had heard about swine flu, whereas only 64.3% of them knew about the H1N1 virus. More than 50% of dental students showed a positive response towards swine flu attitude, and pandemic H1N1 influenza modified the behaviour of dental students. Respondents rated hand washing and face masks as the most effective measures for the prevention of pandemic influenza.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Half of the dental students had enough information and showed a positive attitude towards a H1N1 pandemic influenza outbreak. However, the behavioural response of the participants was poor.
authors.affiliation: Dental College and Hospital, Debari, Rajasthan, India. drkarankahlon@gmail.com
authors.forename: Karanprakash
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Nagesh
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bhat
authors.forename: Harsh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chaudhary
authors.forename: Kaliash
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Asawa
authors.forename: Archana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sharda
authors.forename: Anil
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agrawal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006235:Hand Disinfection; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008397:Masks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D058873:Pandemics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013335:Students, Dental / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult