Attitudes of students of the Nursing study in Osijek on oral health

Cilj istraživanja: Cilj rada bio je ispitati stavove među studentima preddiplomskog i diplomskog studija Sestrinstvo u Osijeku i usporediti stavove o oralnom zdravlju koje su sami prijavili u odnosu na studij, akademsku godinu, spol i dob. Nacrt studije: Studija je ustrojena kao presječno istraživanje. Ispitanici i metode: Ispitanici su studenti sveučilišnog preddiplomskog i diplomskog studija Sestrinstvo u Osijeku. U istraživanje je bilo uključeno ukupno 124 studenata, a provedeno je u razdbolju od veljače do svibnja 2022. godine. Metoda prikupljanja podataka bio je anketni upitnik Sveučilišta u Hirošimi – Dental Behavioural Inventory (HU-DBI) o oralnom zdravlju. Rezultati: Ukupni zbroj HU-DBI upitnika iznosio je 6,81 (± 1,53). Ispitanici su se najviše slagali s tvrdnjom da često provjeravaju kako su oprali zube, da četkaju svaki zub pažljivo te da su od izabranog doktora dentalne medicine dobili povratnu informaciju kako dobro četkaju zube. Najmanje je slaganje ispitanika s tvrdnjama da koriste dječju četkicu, da ih nije briga za boju njihovih zuba te da su primijetili ljepljive naslage na svojim zubima. Žene su iskazale veću brigu za boju zuba i češće su smatrale da su im zubi sve lošiji usprkos četkanju. Kod osoba starijih od 25 godina manje je iskazana briga za boju zuba, u odnosu na mlađe ispitanike. Ispitanici iz dobne skupine od 19 do 22 godine češće su koristili tvrdu četkicu za zube od starijih kolega. Zaključak: Provedeno istraživanje ukazuje kako ispitanici imaju prosječne stavove prema oralnom zdravlju, od čega su najbolje rezultate ostvarili studenti druge godine diplomskog studija (7,27 (± 1,72)). Programi trajne edukacije i programi praktične obuke trebali bi se provoditi radi usvajanja dodatnih znanja o oralnom zdravlju.Objectives: The aim of this paper is to examine the attitudes of undergraduate and graduate nursing students in Osijek about oral health and to compare them in relation to their study programme, academic year, gender and age. Study Design: The study is organized as a cross-sectional study. Participants and Methods: The respondents were undergraduate and graduate nursing students from the University of Osijek. A total of 124 students were included in the study, which was conducted from February to May 2022. The method of data collection was the University of Hiroshima Survey Questionnaire - Dental Behavioral Inventory (HU-DBI) on oral health. Results: The total sum of the HU - DBI questionnaire was 6.81 (± 1.53). Respondents mostly agreed with the statement that they often check how they have brushed their teeth, that they brush each tooth carefully, and that they receive feedback from their chosen dentist that they brush their teeth well. Respondents were least likely to agree with statements that they use a baby toothbrush, that they do not care about the colour of their teeth, and that they have noticed sticky deposits on their teeth. Women showed greater concern about tooth colour and are more likely to feel that their teeth are deteriorating despite brushing. Respondents older than 25 are less concerned about tooth colour than younger respondents. Respondents in the 19-22 age group used a hard toothbrush more often than their older counterparts. Conclusion: The conducted research shows that the respondents have an average attitude towards oral health, with the best results obtained by the second year graduate students (7.27 (± 1.72)). Continuing education and practical training programmes should be conducted to acquire additional knowledge about oral health