Shodan Mangalore, Prasad Karkala V V, Javali Shivalingappa B
Department of Public Health Dentistry, Shri Dharmastala Manjunatheshwar College of Dental Sciences and Hospital, Dharwad, Karnataka, India.
J Investig Clin Dent. 2012 Feb;3(1):62-7. doi: 10.1111/j.2041-1626.2011.00083.x. Epub 2011 Aug 5.
To assess knowledge and the associated factors among Indian school teachers towards oral disease.
A cross-sectional design was employed using a self-administered questionnaire. A total of 215 school teachers were selected, with a response rate of 95.3% (n = 205).
A total of 35.6% of school teachers had "good" knowledge, while 42.4% had "medium" knowledge of the prevention of oral disease. Knowledge of dental caries was highest, as opposed to oral cancer, which was lowest. School teachers aged >50 years and those with postgraduate degrees had greater knowledge. A significant association was observed between teachers' levels of knowledge and their age groups (χ(2) = 20.9950, P < 0.05) and education level (χ(2) = 13.9740, P < 0.05). However, the multivariate stepwise regression analysis showed that education, age group, sex, and type of institutional funding (public/private) was significantly correlated to knowledge (R(2) = 0.1250, P < 0.05).
The study revealed that school teachers, in particular younger teachers and those with only basic educational qualifications, need to be further motivated to improve their awareness and knowledge about oral diseases. Therefore, the establishment of school-based oral health promotion programs in India with immediate effects is essential.
评估印度学校教师对口腔疾病的认知及相关因素。
采用横断面设计，使用自填式问卷。共选取215名学校教师，回复率为95.3%（n = 205）。
共有35.6%的学校教师对口腔疾病预防知识掌握“良好”，42.4%的教师掌握“中等”。对龋齿的认知最高，而对口腔癌的认知最低。年龄大于50岁的学校教师和拥有研究生学历的教师知识掌握程度更高。教师的知识水平与年龄组（χ(2)=20.9950，P<0.05）和教育水平（χ(2)=13.9740，P<0.05）之间存在显著关联。然而，多因素逐步回归分析表明，教育程度、年龄组、性别和机构资金类型（公立/私立）与知识水平显著相关（R(2)=0.1250，P<0.05）。
研究表明，学校教师，尤其是年轻教师和只有基础教育资格的教师，需要进一步激发他们提高对口腔疾病的认识和知识水平。因此，在印度立即建立具有直接效果的校本口腔健康促进项目至关重要。
