title: Effect of dental education on Peruvian dental students' oral health-related attitudes and behavior.
abstract: This study evaluated the effect of dental education on oral health-related attitudes and behavior of students in a five-year dental program in Peru. A survey using the Hiroshima University-Dental Behavioral Inventory (HU-DBI), which consists of twenty dichotomous responses (agree-disagree) regarding oral health behavior and attitudes, was completed by Year 1 and Year 5 dental students at the Universidad Inca Garcilaso de la Vega in Lima, Peru. A total of 153 Year 1 students and 120 Year 5 students responded to the Spanish version of the HU-DBI questionnaire. The data were analyzed using chi-square tests and logistic regression analyses. Compared to the Year 1 students, the Year 5 dental students were more likely to agree with questions such as "I think I can clean my teeth well without using toothpaste" (OR=0.24, 95% CI: 0.10-0.58); "I have used a dye to see how clean my teeth are" (OR=0.19, 95% CI: 0.10-0.36); and "I have had my dentist tell me that I brush very well" (OR=0.34, 95% CI: 0.17-0.69). Overall, the data showed that the curriculum in this dental school in Peru resulted in more positive oral health-related attitudes and behavior among Year 5 dental students compared to those of Year 1 dental students.
authors.affiliation: Department of Craniofacial Sciences, School of Dental Medicine, University of Connecticut, USA.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Camino
authors.forename: Harumi Rodriguez
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Oyakawa
authors.forename: Lyly
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.forename: Liyue
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.forename: Chul
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: William F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Bird
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Komabayashi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003479:Curriculum; D004497:Education, Dental / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009909:Oral Health; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000523:psychology*; D010555:Personality Inventory; D010568:Peru; D011313:Preventive Dentistry / Q000193:education; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013335:Students, Dental / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014177:Translations; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Peru; dental students; oral health attitudes; oral health behaviors; toothbrushing