Department of Health Education and Promotion, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
Department of Public Health, School of Health, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
BMC Oral Health. 2023 Sep 25;23(1):691. doi: 10.1186/s12903-023-03363-7.
Tooth decay and other oral health (periodontal) diseases are highly prevalent worldwide and present a significant economic burden. Oral health is particularly important for adolescents, as the World Health Organization has identified tooth decay as one of the most pressing global health issues. This study aims to identify predictors of oral health behaviors among students aged 13-15 years in the city of Shushtar, Iran.
The present research is a cross-sectional study that was conducted during the summer of 2022 on 415 adolescents from the first secondary school in Shushtar. Two standard questionnaires were used to collect data, consisting of demographic information and questions related to measuring awareness, attitude, performance, and self-efficacy regarding oral health behaviors among adolescents. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS 22 statistical software through descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and regression analysis.
The average scores for awareness, attitude, self-efficacy in brushing teeth, self-efficacy in flossing, self-efficacy in going to the dentist, and adolescents' performance on oral health behaviors are 5.72 ± 2.06, 36.40 ± 6.36, 25.40 ± 7.49, 14.15 ± 6.06, 15.80 ± 5.59, and 14.01 ± 4.02, respectively.
Based on the results of this study, it can be concluded that adolescents have low levels of awareness, performance, self-efficacy, and a positive attitude towards oral health. Considering the significance of adolescence as a stage for shaping oral health behaviors and their impact on adulthood, it is recommended to increase awareness among adolescents and improve their health behaviors by conducting educational classes in schools.
全球范围内，龋齿和其他口腔健康（牙周）疾病的患病率很高，给经济带来了巨大负担。口腔健康对青少年尤为重要，世界卫生组织已将龋齿列为最紧迫的全球健康问题之一。本研究旨在确定伊朗舒什塔尔市 13-15 岁学生口腔健康行为的预测因素。
本研究是一项横断面研究，于 2022 年夏季在舒什塔尔第一中学的 415 名青少年中进行。使用两份标准问卷收集数据，包括人口统计学信息和测量青少年口腔健康行为意识、态度、表现和自我效能感的问题。使用 SPSS 22 统计软件通过描述性统计、Pearson 相关和回归分析对收集的数据进行分析。
青少年对口腔健康行为的意识、态度、刷牙自我效能感、使用牙线自我效能感、看牙医自我效能感和表现的平均得分分别为 5.72±2.06、36.40±6.36、25.40±7.49、14.15±6.06、15.80±5.59 和 14.01±4.02。
根据本研究结果，可以得出结论，青少年对口腔健康的意识、表现、自我效能感和态度较低。鉴于青少年是塑造口腔健康行为和对成年期影响的重要阶段，建议通过在学校开展教育课程来提高青少年的意识并改善他们的健康行为。
