248553 Oral Health Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors among College Students

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Steven E. Shive, PHD, MPH , Health Department, East Stroudsburg University, East Stroudsburg, PA
Aarthi Shanmugavel , Health Department, East Stroudsburg University, East Stroudsburg, PA
The purpose of this study is to report the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of college students related to the risk factors associated with oral cancer, and oral health promotion practices, and the predictors of oral screening. The constructs of the Health Belief Model were used as the basis of the study. A questionnaire was administered in the Fall 2009. The majority of participants perceived their oral health to be good, visited a dentist within the last 6 months. There was a significant correlation between the behavior of use of tobacco and the perceived susceptibility to oral cancer and perceived severity if a person got oral cancer. The findings of this study may assist promoting oral health in U.S. universities and colleges.

Learning Areas:
Public health or related education

Learning Objectives:
1. Identify oral cancer risk factors among College students. 2. List the preventive oral health practices among College students. 3. Describe the perceptions of oral health practices among College students.

Keywords: Oral Health, Cancer Prevention

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to present because I advise students on research involving cancer projects.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Oral-Systemic Health Linkages and the Impact of Behavior
See more of: Oral Health