Evaluation of knowledge and awareness among dental students and private dental practitioners about the emerging trend of travel medicine in and around Kanpur City

Abstract

Context: For the evaluation of knowledge among dental students and practitioners. Aims: Travelers play a significant role in the spread of infections across various international borders, through their travel patterns. The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge and awareness among dental students and dental practitioners regarding the emerging trend of travel medicine in and around Kanpur city. Settings and Design: A descriptive, cross-sectional questionnaire study was performed. Subjects and Methods: The present study was performed at a private dental college in Kanpur from June to July 2018. A total of 450 dental students and dental practitioners of both genders were included in the study. Statistical Analysis Used: The collected data were analyzed by using appropriate statistical software. Results: A total of 190 males and 260 female respondents participated in the study, out of which 130 participants were married and 320 were single. Seventy respondents were aware of the concept of travel vaccines, whereas 30 respondents could give correct definition of travel medicine. Knowledge regarding travel medicine was found to be very poor, 310 of the total respondents were unaware of the uptake of travel vaccine. Conclusions: The present study suggests that, by increasing the knowledge regarding travel medicine uptake through various educational programs not only among dental students and dental practitioners but also among their families, the more uptake of travel medicine will be helpful in preventing various disease spread as these dental professionals may be helpful to educate their patients regarding vaccination during traveling.

Keywords

• Awareness
• dental
• knowledge
• practitioners
• students
• travel medicine