Department of Public Health Dentistry, KMCT Dental College, Kozhikode, Kerala.
Department of Public Health Dentistry, CKS Theja institute of Dental Sciences, Tirupathi, Andhra Pradesh.
Eur J Dent Educ. 2018 Aug;22(3):e444-e450. doi: 10.1111/eje.12323. Epub 2018 Feb 3.
For effective utilisation of topical fluorides in caries prevention, dental professionals should have adequate knowledge regarding its appropriate use. The decision regarding preventive treatments like topical fluorides is influenced by knowledge acquired during undergraduate training. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of undergraduate dental students in the use of topical fluorides.
A descriptive cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted from June to August 2015 following ethical clearance. Three willing Dental Colleges from 3 states of South India participated. Information regarding the knowledge, attitudes and practices of students in the use of topical fluorides was collected using a validated questionnaire.
Nine hundred and seventy-two dental students (79.6% females, 20.4% males) participated. Freshers and preclinical batches had poor overall knowledge of fluorides, which did not show substantial improvement by internship. Self-applied topical fluoride use (fluoridated toothpaste) was seen in more than 90% of interns, and majority had "positive fluoride attitude." Having knowledge of topical fluorides and positive attitudes to topical fluorides did not result in "good oral self-care behaviour" nor appropriate clinical use of topical fluorides. Students who used topical fluorides for persons with history of caries had highest odds of brushing twice a day (OR = 2.7, 95% CI = 1.54, 4.12) and a "positive fluoride attitude" (OR = 1.2, 95% CI = 0.21, 1.57).
Dental students showed deficiencies in their knowledge and understanding of topical fluorides. Dental education in India needs emphasis on topical fluorides across all years, with a special focus on caries risk-based topical fluoride use.
为了有效利用局部用氟化物预防龋齿，牙科专业人员应具备有关其正确使用的充分知识。关于局部用氟化物等预防性治疗的决策受到本科培训期间获得的知识的影响。本研究旨在评估本科牙科学生对局部用氟化物使用的知识、态度和实践。
2015 年 6 月至 8 月，在获得伦理批准后，进行了一项描述性横断面问卷调查研究。来自印度南部三个州的三所愿意参与的牙科学院参加了这项研究。使用经过验证的问卷收集学生在使用局部氟化物方面的知识、态度和实践方面的信息。
共有 972 名牙科学生（79.6%为女性，20.4%为男性）参与了这项研究。新生和临床前批次对氟化物的总体知识掌握较差，实习期间并未有明显改善。超过 90%的实习生自行使用局部氟化物（含氟牙膏），并且大多数人对氟化物持“积极态度”。具有局部氟化物知识和对局部氟化物的积极态度并未导致“良好的口腔自我保健行为”，也没有导致局部氟化物的适当临床使用。对于有龋齿病史的人使用局部氟化物的学生，每天刷牙两次的可能性最高（OR=2.7，95%CI=1.54，4.12），并且具有“积极的氟化物态度”（OR=1.2，95%CI=0.21，1.57）。
牙科学生在局部氟化物的知识和理解方面存在不足。印度的牙科教育需要在所有学年都强调局部氟化物，特别要注重基于龋齿风险的局部氟化物使用。
