Wyne Amjad H, Chohan Arham N, Al-Dosari Khalid, Al-Dokheil Majed
Pediatric Dentistry Division, Department of Preventive Dental Sciences, King Saud University College of Dentistry, Riyadh.
Odontostomatol Trop. 2004 Jun;27(106):22-6.
The purpose of present study was to determine the oral health knowledge and sources of information in male Saudi school children. The required information was collected through a especially designed questionnaire. A total of 130 children completed the questionnaire with the mean age of 13.3 (SD 1.9) years. There was no significant difference in oral health knowledge or sources of information in relation to age and educational level. Less than half (44.6%) of the children actually had heard about fluoride, one-third (34.6%) correctly identified the action of fluoride as preventing tooth decay. Almost all (97.2%) the children thought that sweets (chocolates/candies) could cause tooth decay. However, a large number of children were not aware of cariogenic potential of soft drinks (31.5%). More than half (53.1%) of the children reported that their dentist taught them how to brush properly. However, 11.5% children were not taught by any one about proper tooth-brushing. A large number (40.0%) of children thought that one must visit the dentist only in case of pain in the teeth. Dentists were the most popular (61.5%) source of oral health information. It can be concluded that the children need further oral health education in areas of caries prevention, and there was a need to utilise parents, schoolteachers and media to enhance their oral health knowledge.
本研究的目的是确定沙特男学生的口腔健康知识及信息来源。所需信息通过一份特别设计的问卷收集。共有130名儿童完成了问卷，平均年龄为13.3岁（标准差1.9岁）。在口腔健康知识或信息来源方面，年龄和教育水平之间没有显著差异。不到一半（44.6%）的儿童实际听说过氟化物，三分之一（34.6%）的儿童正确指出氟化物的作用是预防龋齿。几乎所有（97.2%）的儿童都认为甜食（巧克力/糖果）会导致龋齿。然而，大量儿童并未意识到软饮料的致龋潜力（31.5%）。超过一半（53.1%）的儿童表示他们的牙医教过他们如何正确刷牙。然而，11.5%的儿童没有人教过他们正确刷牙。大量（40.0%）的儿童认为只有在牙齿疼痛时才必须去看牙医。牙医是最受欢迎的（61.5%）口腔健康信息来源。可以得出结论，儿童在预防龋齿方面需要进一步的口腔健康教育，并且有必要利用家长、学校教师和媒体来增强他们的口腔健康知识。
