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Comportement vis‐à‐vis de l’hygiène buccale d’une population étudiante italienne
Author(s) -
Rimondini Lia,
Zolfanelli Brunella,
Bernardi Federico,
Bez Cristina
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
journal of clinical periodontology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.456
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1600-051X
pISSN - 0303-6979
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-051x.2001.028003207.x
Subject(s) - toothbrush , oral hygiene , medicine , dental floss , population , compliance (psychology) , dental hygiene , hygiene , dentistry , family medicine , homogeneous , environmental health , psychology , social psychology , physics , brush , pathology , electrical engineering , thermodynamics , engineering
Background, aim: The aim of this study was to assess the oral hygiene attitude and the professional preventive examination compliance in Italian university students. Method: A sample of 202 students attending the University of Bologna was randomly selected and interviewed about their preventive oral health attitude and compliance. All students reported using toothpaste and most of them (92.1%) brushed their teeth at least 2× a day using artificial, medium stiffness bristles. The toothbrush was generally (81.6%) replaced within 3 months. Few subjects (14.9%) said they used dental floss daily or utilized other devices. A majority of subjects (59.9%) had a dental examination within the year previous to the interview. Cluster analysis was performed. Results: 4 groups were identified with homogeneous oral hygiene behavior and compliance toward professional preventive examination. Only one cluster, representing 33.6% of the sample, showed consistent frequency and modalities of oral hygiene habits. The other clusters seemed to be defective with interproximal cleaning procedures and compliance toward professional preventive care. Since the sample was characterized by a young, urbanized, homogeneous group with a high educational level and frequently from an upper middle class social status, the analysis probably gives a supra‐estimation of the positive behavior. Conclusion: It is rational to suppose that strategies to promote dental service utilization, patients’ compliance and a professional style oriented toward prevention may be useful to improve the oral health condition in the young adult Italian population.