Evaluation of Oral Health Related Knowledge and Practices among Support Staff at a Dental Institution: A Cross-sectional Survey
Amol Karagir
Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be) University Dental College and Hospital, Sangli, Maharashtra, India.
Tanushri Dalvi *
Department of Public Health Dentistry, Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be) University Dental College and Hospital, Sangli, Maharashtra, India.
Shrivardhan Kalghatgi
Department of Public Health Dentistry, Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be) University Dental College and Hospital, Sangli, Maharashtra, India.
Shridevi Adaki
Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be) University Dental College and Hospital, Sangli, Maharashtra, India.
Aniruddha Shete
Department of Periodontology, Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be) University Dental College and Hospital, Sangli, Maharashtra, India.
Anagha Shete
Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be) University Dental College and Hospital, Sangli, Maharashtra, India.
Shraddha Thorat
Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be) University Dental College and Hospital, Sangli, Maharashtra, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aim: Knowledge of oral health is considered as one of the important factors as it influences the oral health related behaviour of an individual and oral hygiene practices in turn affects the oral heath related quality of life. Hence, the main aim of this survey was to assess the knowledge and practices of support staff at dental institute in Maharashtra.
Study Design: Cross-sectional survey.
Methodology: The present survey was cross-sectional survey conducted among 103 Support staff of a Dental Institute. The questionnaire consisted of 16 questions which which was distributed. Demographic characteristics, oral health related knowledge and practices were presented using descriptive statistics. Knowledge among different categories of support staff was compared using chi-square test.
Results and Conclusion: The results of the present study conclude that majority of the participants had a good knowledge about their oral health but were not motivated to utilize dental services which were available to them. The oral hygiene practices lacked the use of supplemental oral hygiene aids.
Keywords: Nurses, oral health, oral hygiene, self-care, self-assessment