Journal of Oral Health and Community Dentistry

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VOLUME 14 , ISSUE 3 ( September-December, 2020 ) > List of Articles

ORIGINAL RESEARCH

Assessment of Oral Health Awareness among Supporting Staff of a Dental Institution: A Cross-sectional Survey

Bhuvaneshwari Nadar, Sapna Prasanna, Nisha Puranik, Sahil Dhingra, Radhika Deshpande, Meghnaa Subbarayalu

Citation Information : Nadar B, Prasanna S, Puranik N, Dhingra S, Deshpande R, Subbarayalu M. Assessment of Oral Health Awareness among Supporting Staff of a Dental Institution: A Cross-sectional Survey. J Oral Health Comm Dent 2020; 14 (3):78-83.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10062-0077

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Published Online: 25-01-2021

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2020; The Author(s).


Abstract

Background and objective: Supportive staff members are an essential component of the healthcare team for effective delivery of oral healthcare services. They act as a link between the dentist and the general population by giving information about oral health-related issues. Their behavior, knowledge, and attitude related to oral health are of prime importance for the effective delivery of services to the community. Therefore, a study was planned to assess the behavior, knowledge, and attitude related to oral health among the supporting staff of a dental institution. Materials and methods: Descriptive, cross-sectional survey was conducted using a validated, structured, self/interviewer-administered, 36 items questionnaire among 179 supporting staff of the dental institution. Data were compiled and analyzed systematically to make the inference. Results: The survey had 74% response rate. About 65 participants (49.3%) identified the correct number of teeth sets, 107 (81.1%) were aware that retention of the sweet foods between the teeth leads to tooth decay, and 91 (68.9%) were unaware of the anticaries effect of fluorides. Around 90 (68.2%) participants were unaware that plaque is a soft deposit on the tooth or teeth surface. Nearly 118 staff (89.3%) believed in regular dental checkup, 122 (92%) staff opined tobacco and smoking as a deleterious habit. Conclusion: Supportive staff members were having good practice toward oral health with moderate knowledge and a positive attitude toward oral health. As the study was only conducted in a single dental institution, the results are generalizable only among this sample.


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