Madhumitha et al

Year : 2024 | Volume : 9 | Issue : 2 | Page : 21-28

Dental awareness and attitude among nursing students in India. A cross-sectional survey

Madhumitha Subramanian, Shivashankar Kengadaran, Divvi Anusha

Department of Public Health Dentistry, Indira Gandhi Institute of Dental Sciences, Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth, Pondicherry, India

Address for correspondence:

Dr. Shivashankar Kengadaran

Professor

Department of Public Health Dentistry,

Indira Gandhi Institute of Dental Sciences, Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth, Pondicherry, India

Email:shiva.free@gmail.com

Background:

Oral hygiene significantly influences general health and daily functioning. Despite this, gaps persist in the understanding and outlook toward dental care among healthcare trainees, particularly those in nursing programs. This investigation was conducted to examine dental knowledge levels and related attitudes among nursing students in Pondicherry, India

Methods:

A cross-sectional analytical approach was utilized for this study. A total of 305 Nursing students from two institutions in Pondicherry were included. Information was gathered through a self-structured questionnaire administered electronically via Google Forms. The tool comprised sections on participant characteristics, understanding of oral hygiene practices, perception of dental health, and attitudes toward acquiring oral care knowledge.

Results:

The analysis revealed considerable limitations in oral health understanding among respondents. Although most participants (92.4%) were aware that routine brushing helps prevent dental and gingival conditions, only 31.8% correctly identified the preventive function of fluoride. Nearly half of the students (45.4%) reported no prior dental consultation. While 76.4% showed willingness to respond to patients’ oral health needs, 23.3% lacked clarity on appropriate care measures. Furthermore, frequent intake of flavored beverages was reported by 59.3% of students, indicating a potential risk factor for oral disease.

Conclusion:

Focused training on preventive measures, routine dental check-ups, and the influence of dietary habits on oral health is recommended to improve overall patient care outcomes.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

How to cite this Article: Madhumitha Subramanian et al., Dental awareness and attitude among nursing students in India.A cross-sectional survey. Int J Soc Rehab 2024; 9(2): 21-28 doi: 10.56501/intjsocrehab.v9i2.ijsr0010