Postgraduate students’ knowledge on oral health

Resumo

This study aimed to evaluate the oral health knowledge
of postgraduate students comparing the results according to the
area (exact sciences, health and humanities). Material and methods:
The descriptive study consisted of a questionnaire with 12 open and
closed questions applied to 120 students enrolled in post-graduation
courses at the University of Ribeirão Preto. All responses were
analyzed using descriptive statistics and the comparison among
the student's areas was performed using Chi-square test with 5%
significance level of significance. Results: The results showed that
the average age of participants was 30.8 years, but with statistically
significant difference among the three areas (humanities - 32.8
years; health - 27 and exact - 30.8 years). The last visit to the
dentist in the last 12 months for 48.7% of the graduates in the
humanities, 69.0% in the health area and 74.4% in the exact area,
in a private practice (43.6% of Human, 71.4% health and 79.5%
exact area) (p<0.05). About what is plaque, 25.6% of graduates in
humanities, 23.8% in health area, and 17.9% in exacts could not
answer. Concerning to plaque removal, 43.6% of the humanity and
health area graduate thought that only the dentist can remove it.
Dental caries primarily occurs because of poor hygiene for 59.0%
of the graduates in the humanities, 81.0% of health care and 69.2%
of the exact area. About fluoride, most knew about their usefulness
(prevention and protection), but 31.0% of the graduates in healthcare
associated fluoride to cleaning. Statistically significant differences
in the questions about knowledge were found. Conclusion: It was
concluded that the knowledge presented by graduates was limited
and incomplete, regardless of the area.