Abstract
Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the oral health care of oral prophylaxis practice lab visitors, their recognition of oral care supplies, their use of oral care supplies by type, and influential factors for their recognition and use of oral care supplies. Methods: The subjects in this study were 275 people who visited an oral prophylaxis practice lab at a university located in an urban community. The visitors were respectively interviewed from March to June, 2016, and the data from 260 respondents who properly responded were analyzed, and data from 15 visitors who provided incomplete responsees were excluded. Statistical analysis was performed using the nonparametric tests, mann-whitney test and kruskal-wallis test, and multiple regression analysis using SPSS. Results: The mean score of oral care products was 2.25, the average degree of use was 0.09, and dental floss (0.29) was the most used oral care product. There was a significant difference between the groups according to gender (p<0.001), age (p<0.001) and marital status (p<0.001). Factors influencing the perception of oral care products were experience in brushing education and experience in oral care products education. Conclusions: The recognition of the oral prophylaxis practice lab visitors about oral care supplies and their use of the supplies were under the influence of oral health education. Therefore, sustained efforts should be directed into the development of efficient oral health care education programs that can inform people about the importance of oral health care, publicize oral care supplies, and encourage the use of these supplies.
Figures & Tables
Table 1. The general characteristics of the subjects
