We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Awareness of the Effects of Smoking on Oral Health among Dental Patients at the Defense Service General Hospital, Myanmar.
- Authors
Tin-Oo, Mon Mon; Aung, Tin Tin; Saddki, Norkhafizah; Aung, Tin Maung
- Abstract
Background: Tobacco smoking has been shown to affect oral health, from cosmetic effects such as tooth staining to potentially life-threatening conditions such as oral cancer. Objective: To investigate the awareness of the effects of smoking on oral health among patients attending the Dental Clinic at the Defense Service General Hospital, Yangon, Myanmar. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 424 adult patients filled out self-administered questionnaires assessing patient awareness of the effects of smoking on oral health. Results: Of the 424 respondents, 299 (68.2%) were male and 162 (38.2%) were smokers; of the latter, 156 (96.3%) were male (P < 0.001). The highest percentage of smokers was in the age group 15-24 years (P = 0.007). Fifty-eight percent of the respondents were not aware that smoking can cause delayed wound healing. Non-smokers were significantly more aware that smoking can cause early tooth loss and oral cancer but smokers were more aware that smoking can change taste and smell. The mean total awareness score did not differ significantly between smokers and non-smokers, but level of education and age group were significantly associated with mean total awareness score. Conclusion: Awareness of the effects of smoking did not differ between smoking and non-smoking dental patients in Myanmar but the mean scores for both groups were low. We recommend that all dental patients, regardless of smoking status, receive tobacco hazard education.
- Subjects
MYANMAR; ORAL hygiene; COGNITION; MOUTH tumors; QUESTIONNAIRES; SMOKING; SURVEYS; TOOTH loss; WOUND healing; CROSS-sectional method; DATA analysis software; PATIENTS' attitudes; DESCRIPTIVE statistics; PSYCHOLOGY
- Publication
International Medical Journal, 2013, Vol 20, Issue 2, p239
- ISSN
1341-2051
- Publication type
Article