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Periodontal health: A national cross‐sectional study of knowledge, attitudes and practices for the public oral health strategy in China
Author(s) -
Zhao Qian,
Wang ShiBin,
Xu Guodong,
Song Yiqing,
Han Xiaozhe,
Liu Zhiqiang,
Zhou Xuan,
Zhang Tianyi,
Huang Kewu,
Yang Ting,
Lin Yingxiang,
Wu Sinan,
Wang Zuomin,
Wang Chen
Publication year - 2019
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 - 10.1111/jcpe.13082
Subject(s) - dental floss , medicine , cross sectional study , marital status , logistic regression , public health , periodontal disease , residence , environmental health , dentistry , population , family medicine , gerontology , demography , nursing , pathology , sociology
Aim To assess the status of periodontal health knowledge, attitudes and practices ( KAP ) among Chinese adults. Materials and Methods A cross‐sectional study was conducted in a nationally representative sample of adults ( N = 50,991) aged 20 years or older from ten provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities. Percentages of Chinese adults with correct periodontal knowledge, positive periodontal attitudes, and practices were estimated. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to examine the related factors. Results Less than 20% of Chinese adults were knowledgeable about periodontal disease. Very few (2.6%) of Chinese adults use dental floss ≥once a day and undergo scaling ≥once a year and visit a dentist (6.4%) in the case of gingival bleeding. Periodontal health KAP was associated with gender, age, body mass index, marital status, place of residence, education level, income, smoking status, and history of periodontal disease. Conclusions Periodontal health KAP are generally poor among the Chinese adult population. Community‐based health strategies to improve periodontal health KAP need to be implemented. Increasing knowledge of periodontal disease, the cultivation of correct practices in response to gingival bleeding, and the development of good habits concerning the use of dental floss and regular scaling should be public oral health priorities.