Higher Education students from health and non-health subject areas: aspects of oral health

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objetive To evaluate whether the area of study of undergraduate students influences oral health knowledge, attitudes and practices, in addition to the use of dental services, self-reported oral morbidity, self-perception and impacts of oral health. Methods A cross-sectional study was performed, with a probabilistic sample of 681 students from the second semester of a Higher Education Institution, who were allocated into Health (H; n = 347) and Non-Health (NH; n = 334) groups, and answered a questionnaire encompassing their sociodemographic profile and aspects of oral health. Data were analyzed by Fisher’s Chi-Square/Exact Test (α = 5%). Results The majority of students were female (H = 70.0%, NH = 56.9%, p = 0.0004), single (H = 82.7%, NH = 76.0%, p = 0.0429) and did not work (H = 30.5%, NH = 37.7%, p = 0.0482). The groups differed in terms of receiving oral health guidelines from the media (H = 19.9%, NH = 13.8%, p = 0.0333) or from other health professionals (H = 25.6%, NH = 13.2%, p 0.05). Conclusions The groups differed regarding the source of information on oral health, the reason for seeking and type of treatment, and the self-perception of bad breath, with the Health group reporting greater satisfaction with their oral health.

Keywords

• Knowledge
• Habits
• Oral Health