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- Title
Oral Hygiene Practices and Knowledge Among Nursing Students: A Cross-sectional Study at Unikl RCMP.
- Authors
Sabar, Tuminah; Md Rabi, Rose Ayu; Arumugam, Sumathy; Zakaria, Zainul Azhar
- Abstract
Introduction: Oral health is an essential component of overall health and well-being. Inadequate oral hygiene practices and knowledge can lead to significant health issues that impact quality of life. Among students, particularly nursing students, maintaining optimal oral health can be challenging. The study aimed o assess the level of oral hygiene knowledge and practices among students, identify associated factors, and propose recommendations for enhancement of oral care practices among nursing students. Method: A cross-sectional study involving 77 nursing students was conducted using structured questionnaires to collect data on oral hygiene practices, awareness, and sources of information. Results: The study revealed several key findings across three objectives. Firstly, in assessing the prevalence and patterns of oral hygiene practices. It was found that the majority of students are female (88.3%), have visited a dentist (96.1%), and exhibit varying ages at their first dental visit. In terms of oral hygiene at home, most students brush their teeth twice daily (41.6%), use manual toothbrushes (97.4%), and do not use dental floss regularly (61.1%). While the majority clean their tongue (88.3%), few utilize additional tools for oral hygiene (32.5%). A significant proportion are aware of professional oral hygiene (66.2%) and have undergone it (58.4%), with recommendations being received during orthodontic treatment by 28.6% of respondents. The majority received oral hygiene training from parents (31.2%) or dentists (32.5%), with 85.7% attending oral hygiene meetings and 97.4% expressing a desire for more oral health information. Secondly, gender differences were evident in awareness and utilization of professional oral hygiene services. Females exhibited higher awareness (62.3%) compared to males (3.9%). Additionally, more females reported undergoing professional oral hygiene treatments annually. Finally, no significant association between sources of oral hygiene training and the desire for more oral health information (p > 0.05 for all comparisons). Similarly, no significant association was observed between dentists recommending professional oral hygiene during orthodontic treatment and students’ awareness of professional oral hygiene (p = 0.067). These findings suggest that factors other than the source of training may influence students’ interest in seeking additional information about oral health. Conclusion: In conclusion, this study explains oral hygiene practices and knowledge among nursing students at UniKL RCMP. The findings emphasize the importance of promoting good oral health habits among students for overall well-being. While most students demonstrate adequate oral hygiene practices, areas for improvement exist, notably in consistent dental floss use and utilization of additional oral hygiene tools. The lack of significant association between sources of oral hygiene training and the desire for more oral health information underscores the complexity of factors influencing students’ attitudes. Increased awareness, training, and education programs are recommended to enhance oral hygiene practices and knowledge among nursing students for improved overall health outcomes.
- Subjects
ORAL hygiene; DENTISTS; NURSING students; STUDENT attitudes; DENTAL education; DENTAL schools; HEALTH behavior; DENTAL floss
- Publication
Malaysian Journal of Medicine & Health Sciences, 2024, Vol 20, p88
- ISSN
1675-8544
- Publication type
Article