Assessment of oral health status and its association with knowledge and attitude among pharmacy students in Indore City: a crosssectionalstudy

Abstract

INTRODUCTION-Pharmacy students occupy a unique position in promoting public health through advice on medications and preventive care. However, studies indicate that their knowledge and attitude towards oral health may be inadequate, reflecting the need for educational interventions. AIM-To assess the oral health status of pharmacy students in a private institute and evaluate its association with their knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) towards oral health. MATERIALS AND METHOD-A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 108 pharmacy students at Sri Aurobindo Institute of Pharmacy, Indore. Oral health status was recorded by clinical oral examination through WHO Oral Health Assessment Form (2013) for adults. Data assessing knowledge, attitude and practices related to oral health were collected using a pretested, validated questionnaire. RESULTS-Most participants demonstrated a moderate level of knowledge and a positive attitude towards oral health. The mean bleeding score was found to be 0.78 while the mean DMFT score was 4.28, suggesting a higher prevalence of dental caries experience. Statistical analysis showed a significant positive correlation between oral health knowledge and both attitude and practices ( p < 0.05), while the association between attitude and clinical oral status was weaker. CONCLUSION-Although pharmacy students showed favourable attitudes towards oral health, their practical application and clinical oral hygiene status were suboptimal. The findings highlight the need for incorporating structured oral health education to enhance students’ preventive knowledge and influence their role in community oral health promotion.