Medical Principles and Practice

Original Paper

Free Access

Dental Health Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviour among Students at the Kuwait University Health Sciences Centre

Al-Hussaini R.a · Al-Kandari M.a · Hamadi T.a · Al-Mutawa A.a · Honkala S.b · Memon A.a

Author affiliations

Faculties of aMedicine and bDentistry, Health Sciences Centre, Kuwait University, Kuwait

Corresponding Author

Dr. Sisko Honkala

Faculty of Dentistry, Kuwait University

PO Box 24923, 13110 Safat (Kuwait)

Tel. +965 2664502, ext. 7137, Fax +965 2634247

E-Mail sisko.honkala@hsc.kuniv.edu.kw

Keywords: ToothbrushingSugarSubjective dental healthUniversity studentsMedicinePharmacyDentistryKuwait

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Med Princ Pract 2003;12:260–265
https://doi.org/10.1159/000072295

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the extent of dental health knowledge among students at the Kuwait University Health Sciences Centre (HSC), as well as their attitudes toward dental health and their oral hygiene habits. Methods: A structured questionnaire was distributed to 450 of the 800 students enrolled in 3 faculties of the HSC from March to April 2000. The questionnaire was completed anonymously by the students. Results: Four hundred and ten students (91.1%) completed the questionnaire. Of these, 64.6% believed that the main cause of tooth decay was ‘not brushing properly’. Only 19.3% of the students believed that sugar could cause dental decay. Half of the students did not know if sugar-free drinks are harmful to their teeth, and 29.5% did not know about any measures to prevent gums from bleeding. Self-assessment questions showed that 84.5% of the students were satisfied with their dental health. A large majority of the students (94.8%) brushed their teeth at least once a day. Female students brushed their teeth more frequently than male students, as did those students who had visited a dentist in the past 6–12 months and those who rated their dental health to be very good. The main reason given for a dental visit was toothache (70.0%). Coffee was consumed daily by 68.9% of students, 76.6% of whom added sugar to their coffee. Conclusions: The findings indicate that although most of the students at the HSC seem to be satisfied with their dental health, they did not have correct knowledge about the causes and prevention of dental diseases. In general, female students were more aware and concerned about dental health issues and more engaged in dental behaviour than male students.

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Article / Publication Details

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Abstract of Original Paper

Published online: September 12, 2003
Issue release date: October – December

Number of Print Pages: 6
Number of Figures: 0
Number of Tables: 2

ISSN: 1011-7571 (Print)
eISSN: 1423-0151 (Online)

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