Knowledge and attitudes towards HIV/AIDS amongst Kuwait university dental students

The HIV and AIDS have emerged as complex health threats to the world population. As future dentists, it is pertinent that the dental students have sufficient knowledge and a positive approach towards the disease. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to assess the HIV/AIDS related knowledge and attitudes amongst clinical dental students at Kuwait University. A cross‐sectional survey was conducted amongst the clinical dental students using a structured questionnaire with 60 questions to examine their knowledge under various categories and 13 questions to examine their attitudes towards the disease. The survey revealed that almost 58% of the respondents demonstrated a high level of knowledge (mean score: 45.23 ± 4.35 SD). Majority of the students (63.6%) expressed negative attitude (mean score: 5.36 ± 2.56 SD). The mean knowledge score of the fifth year dental students was significantly higher (P = 0.022) than that of the final year dental students regarding the knowledge of virus and disease process. However, no significant difference was observed with respect to other knowledge categories. Despite their high level of knowledge, the majority displayed a negative attitude towards HIV/AIDS. Hence, the findings imply that there is a need to address, more clearly, the students’ misconceptions and attitudes towards the disease.     

Relationship between knowledge and attitudes regarding HIV/AIDS among dental school employees and students

OBJECTIVES: Employees and students at the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Oslo responded to a comprehensive questionnaire regarding knowledge and attitudes towards human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The intention of the present study was to describe possible relationships between the two. METHOD: The questionnaire consisted of 39 closed questions. The response rate was 75% (436/584). The answers were used to construct additive indices for knowledge and attitudes. RESULTS: The knowledge index reflected the number of correct answers concerning risk groups and transmission. A factor analysis revealed three dimensions of attitudes ('legal', 'personal risk', and 'personal consequences'), which were analysed separately against knowledge. Correlation analyses (Spearman r) of all respondents together (n = 436) revealed a weak, but statistically significant, positive correlation between knowledge and the 'legal' and 'personal risk' dimension of attitudes (r = 0.16, P < 0.01; r = 0.21, P < 0.001). The 'personal consequence' dimension was not significantly correlated with knowledge (r = 0.06, P > 0.05). The strongest correlation was found between knowledge and the 'legal' dimension (r = 0.43, P < 0.001), and knowledge and the 'personal risk' dimension (r = 0.41, P < 0.002) amongst fourth year students. No particular group of employees or students displayed a significant correlation between knowledge and the 'personal consequence' dimension of attitudes. CONCLUSIONS: Three dimensions on attitudes concerning patients with HIV/acquired immune deficiency syndrome were identified amongst the respondents. A weak correlation between knowledge and two of the attitudes might indicate that knowledge plays a role in this respect.     

HIV/AIDS: dental assistants' self‐reported knowledge and attitudes in Kuwait

Although several studies have been conducted to assess dentists' knowledge of and attitudes towards human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immune‐deficiency syndrome (AIDS), few have targeted dental assistants. The main aims of this study were to assess the knowledge of and attitudes towards HIV/AIDS among dental assistants in Kuwait and to compare the knowledge and attitudes of dental assistants at Kuwait University Dental Center (KUDC) with those of dental assistants in Ministry of Health (MoH) hospitals. The secondary objective was to determine if any intervention was needed to provide more information to dental assistants on HIV/AIDS. A cross‐sectional study was conducted by distributing questionnaires. The study sample included 85 dental assistants from each of KUDC and the MoH. The questionnaire included questions to assess the assistants' knowledge and attitude towards HIV/AIDS. Statistical data analysis was conducted using SPSS 20.0. Qualitative data were analysed using the Pearson chi‐square text for any association or the Z‐test for proportion to test the significance of differences. A total of 167 questionnaires were completed, returned and analysed. KUDC dental assistants were found to have significantly more knowledge about HIV/AIDS than their MoH counterparts, whereas the assistants at the MoH clinics displayed a more positive attitude towards patients with HIV/AIDS (P < 0.05). Although dental assistants at KUDC were more knowledgeable than those at the MoH clinics, there are still some misconceptions that need to be addressed, in addition to the negative attitudes displayed by some of the respondents. It would therefore be beneficial to increase awareness about HIV/AIDS patients through lectures, seminars and workshops targeting dental assistants.     

Smoking and attitudes towards it and its cessation among dental students in Latvia

Abstract

Background. The prevalence of smoking is higher in Latvia than in most EU countries. This study aimed to determine the level of knowledge of dental students in Latvia about the effects of smoking on oral health and their attitudes toward smoking and its cessation. Methods. A cross-sectional survey among all the dental students in Latvia was conducted in 2011. Students at the Riga Stradins University were asked to participate in this anonymous, voluntary survey. The questionnaire included items concerned with the students’ own smoking habits, their knowledge of smoking as an addiction and its health effects and their attitudes towards its prevention and cessation in a dental setting. The response rate was 87% (173/200). The Chi-square test and logistic regression were used for the statistical analyses. Results. About one quarter of the students (24%) were daily or occasional smokers and almost half of the male students (46%) had smoked at least 100-times in their lifetime. The students revealed a lack of knowledge about the addictive nature of smoking, in that about half of the students did not consider smoking physically or socially addictive. About one fifth (21.4%) didn’t consider environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) harmful to one’s health. Although the students’ awareness of smoking improved during their studies, the most significant factor related to their knowledge was their own smoking history (OR = 2.7; p = 0.021). Conclusions. Smoking was frequent among undergraduate dental students and they lacked knowledge of its addictiveness. More emphasis ought to be placed on education with regard to smoking and on cessation services.     

Knowledge and attitudes towards HIV/AIDS among dental students of Jazan University,Kingdom Saudi Arabia

Objectives

To evaluate the knowledge and attitudes of dental students at Jazan University, Saudi Arabia; compare the differences in HIV/AIDS related knowledge and attitudes between the genders and years of study.

Oral Hygiene and dental student's knowledge, attitude and behaviour in managing HIV/AIDS patients

Abstract:  The human immunodeficiency virus (AIDS) and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) have profoundly affected every aspect of the public health sector. The possibility of HIV transmission in the oral health care setting is very rare. Nonetheless, the oral health care environment has become a helpful setting for early detection, as most lesions of HIV infection present orally during the first stages of the disease. Willingness to treat patients with HIV/AIDS appears to be related to knowledge of the disease process, its oral manifestations and modes of transmission, thus influencing health workers' attitudes and behaviour towards management of HIV/AIDS patients. This study assessed the level of management of HIV/AIDS patients amongst dental and oral hygiene students at the University of the Western Cape Dental faculty. Student's knowledge of HIV/AIDS, their behaviour and attitude in treating HIV/AIDS patients, the precautionary measures practiced and their perceptions of curriculum preparation on HIV/AIDS were assessed. Data were collected by means of a self- administered questionnaire. The results indicated that students' knowledge on HIV/AIDS generally increased as they progressed throughout their curriculum but their utilization of all barrier techniques for infection control and clinical protocol, lacked consistency and compliance. Given the fact that the possibility of transmission of HIV/AIDS does exist within the dental setting, it is important that supervisors reinforce universal precautions. Clinical application of these precautions has a direct impact on the spread of the disease.     

Knowledge and attitude towards smoking among Indian students of dentistry

Active cigarette smoking is the major cause of lung cancer and an important established cause of cardiovascular disease mortality. Risks have been shown to increase with even light or intermittent active smoking. Objectives: To assess the prevalence of smoking, age of initiation and the knowledge and attitude towards smoking among dental college students of Rajasthan, India. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1,383 undergraduate and postgraduate dental college students of Rajasthan using self-administered closed-ended questionnaires consisting of 14 questions divided into four sections. A chi-square test was used to determine the association between dependent and independent variables. Results: Of all the participants, 777 (56.2%) were male and 606 (43.8%) were female. Among these 258 (33.2%) males and 51 (8.4%) females had tried or experimented smoking. Majority of males (24.7%) initiated this habit at a very young age, before 16 years. About 79.5% males and 72.3% females felt that it was difficult to quit smoking. According to 88.1% females and 48.7% males, people feel less comfortable at public places or social gatherings. Conclusion: The study has shown that the smoking prevalence among dental college students is high and has managed to contribute additional information regarding their attitude towards smoking. Comprehensive tobacco education and smoking cessation programmes should be aggressively promoted in dental settings.     

Knowledge,perceptions, and attitudes of dental students towards obesity

Aims

Obesity is a chronic medical condition associated with various oral health problems. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes of dental students towards obesity.

Material and methods

Second-, third-, and fourth-year dental students completed a self-administered questionnaire. An ethics committee approved the study. Participants were asked questions focused on three areas: (i) knowledge, (ii) perceptions, and (iii) attitudes about obesity. Data analyses were carried out using SPSS version 20.

Results

Among the dental students, 78.9% received 0–1 h of formal education about obesity. The mean score of the total time allocated for obesity-related education was 1.31 ± 0.23 h. Eighty-nine percent of the dental students agreed that obesity is a chronic medical condition, 30% agreed that they would modify their equipment and office furniture to accommodate obese patients, and 46.8% were interested in learning more about obesity in dental school.

Conclusion

Obesity-related education should be implemented as a formal component of dental student training. Oral health practitioners should also provide their patients with information about how weight loss is beneficial to both general and oral health.     

Attitudes of Italian dental and dental hygiene students toward tobacco-use cessation

Objective:  The aim of this study was to investigate the smoking habits of Italian dental and dental hygiene students and to assess their knowledge on the health effects of cigarette smoking and their attitudes toward tobacco-use cessation (TUC) in dental practice.
Materials and methods:  Data was collected from 220 students attending the Dental and Dental Hygiene Schools (DS and DHS, respectively) at the University of Palermo (Italy).
Results:  The percentage of smokers amongst DS and DHS students was similar (32.78% vs. 32.5%) with 67.77% of DS students and 77.5% of DHS agreeing that the damages to health caused by smoking were covered in their didactic course work. A high percentage of DS (63.33%) and DHS (67.5%) students reported the relationship between smoking and a number of associated health conditions. Both DS and DHS students showed poor knowledge of TUC interventions. Both DS and DHS students reported to be conscious of their own role as a counsellor, with DHS students feeling more comfortable in approaching counselling in clinical practice. Although DS and DHS students reported a positive attitude toward TUC interventions, almost half of the students had some concerns about the effectiveness of smoking cessation activities.
Discussion:  The introduction of a comprehensive tobacco education curriculum in DS and DHS programs could further improve students' perceptions and attitudes and provide knowledge and clinical experience which would lead to the incorporation of TUC into subsequent professional practice.     

Oral health attitudes and behaviours of final‐year dental students

Objectives: The objectives of this study of final‐year dental students in 10 classes (1997, 2001—2009) were to examine their self‐reported oral health attitudes and behaviours and describe any trends in these attributes. Participants and methods: Students were surveyed in final semester via an anonymous questionnaire (34 behaviour questions; eight attitude statements). Distributions, trends over time and attitude–behaviour associations were examined. Results: Of 583 students, 459 responded (79%). All tooth‐brushed with fluoride toothpaste; 80% brushed ≥2/day. Overall, 85% flossed; over time flossing behaviour increased significantly (P < 0.05), and those flossing 1—2/day increased (P < 0.005). Over time, significant decreases occurred in those taught toothbrushing (P < 0.001) and flossing (P < 0.05), and in use of mouth rinses (P < 0.05) and tooth cleansing sticks/picks (P < 0.001). Almost all (96%) had received a dental examination; 77% attended a dentist 1—3/year. Between‐meal snacking was common (84%); 71% chewed gum. Although 18% had ever smoked, 5% currently smoked. Most strongly agreed they expected to keep most of their teeth for all their life (76%); their future needs for fillings would be minimal (61%); smoking could adversely affect their teeth or gums (85%); and regular dental attendance was important for their dental health (51%). Congruent attitudes and behaviours favouring oral health were widely held concerning dental attendance, flossing and smoking. Conclusions: Final‐year dental students showed well established, favourable oral hygiene attitudes and behaviours, with evidence to suggest this knowledge was developed whilst in dental school. Despite many ceasing smoking, 5% still smoked. All dental students should receive training in motivational counselling and tobacco cessation to ensure this is included in patient care.     

Comparison of attitudes towards dental education among dental students in Japan and China

The aim of this study was to identify and compare the attitudes of dental students towards dental education in Japan and China. Fifty‐four dental students from the Stomatology School of China Medical University and 51 dental students from the Dental Faculty of Kyushu University, Japan, participated in this study. Information was derived from a self‐answered questionnaire consisting of 11 items. Significant differences in the responses of the participants from the two countries were detected for 10 of the questionnaire items (P < 0.05). Nearly three‐quarters of the Japanese students were satisfied with the teaching faculties of their schools, while only a quarter of the Chinese students indicated satisfaction. A total of 69% of Chinese students thought that learning a foreign language wasted too much time compared with none of the Japanese students. A student‐oriented teaching mode was not well accepted by either of the groups, and 62% of Chinese students and 53% of Japanese students wanted to increase the duration of the clinical practice stage of education. The findings from this study enhance our understanding of differences and/or similarities among dental students in the two nations. This information may help to define strategies to improve the quality of dental education, and especially exchange programmes of international students.     

Characteristics and study motivation of Danish dental students in a longitudinal perspective

This survey encompasses 3 comparable datasets of newly admitted dental students in 1972 (n=236), 1982 (n=197), and 1994 (n=108). The objectives of the survey were to describe selected socio-demographic characteristics of dental students and to analyze possible changes over time as well as possible changes in the reasons reported by the students for choosing dentistry as a career, their motivations and their expectations concerning the study and the profession of dentistry. The results showed that the ratio of women to men remained unchanged at 6:4 in all 3 cohorts of students and that the students were increasingly recruited from the 2 upper social classes. The motives for choosing dentistry mainly included altruistic motives, the desire for varied work with the opportunity to put theory into practice, economic rewards, and the implicit social status. Compared to the 1972 students, those in 1994 placed greater emphasis on social status as a motive, on the opportunity to work in the biological and scientific field, and on the ready availability of work outside Denmark. The students in all 3 years had strong altruistic motives for choosing dentistry, and it would seem that this stable continuity in the cohort of dental students would ensure the continuous controlled development of dentistry in the new millennium.     

Knowledge, behavior, and attitudes of adolescent university students towards HIV infection and AIDS

The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge, behavior, and attitudes of students entering the University of Buenos Aires (UBA) towards HIV/AIDS, as well as to determine the differences between genders and between groups with different behavior in terms of HIV/AIDS risk behavior, through the conduct of an ad hoc semi-structured questionnaire. This questionnaire was completed anonymously by 12,000 university students going in for compulsory medical check-up at the Health and Social Welfare Office of the UBA. Two thousand cases were selected by simple randomized sampling and statistically analyzed. Results revealed that: (1) 87.2% of the population under study was between 18 and 27 years old; (2) the students' knowledge of the subject was acceptable; (3) the percentage of respondents who reported having sexual intercourse with more than one person decreased as the number of sexual partners in a year increased. Less than 1.5% explicitly stated being homosexual or bisexual; (4) 53.9% of the men and 46.7% of the women claimed they always used condoms; (5) analysis of the perception of their own risk showed that 75% considered they were not at risk; (6) between 95.8% and 98% were in favor of developing educational-preventive activities and 64.2% thought compulsory AIDS screening for job applicants or candidates for educational courses was discrimination. Conclusions: (a) Information available to admission course students is sufficient. However, there are contradictions in their responses about their own behaviors; (b) Most of the respondents are in favor of the corresponding Faculties implementing educational and preventive measures. The students would regard the University's intervention as a way of fulfilling its social role.