Senior Dental Students’ Knowledge and Practice regarding Oral Health of Diabetic Patients in Tehran, Iran

Aims: A strong association has been documented between diabetes mellitus (DM) and oral diseases. Since dental clinicians are mainly responsible for the oral health of the general population, this study aimed to assess the knowledge and practice of dental students in Tehran regarding the oral health of diabetic patients. Instrument Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a researcher-designed questionnaire with 3 domains and 32 questions (5 demographic, 21 knowledge, and 6 practice questions) was used for data collection. After assessing the validity and reliability of the questionnaire, 130 senior dental students attending Tehran, Shahid Beheshti, Shahed, and Islamic Azad University dental schools were requested to fill it out. Data were analyzed by the linear regression model using SPSS version 20. Findings: The mean age of the participants was 24.6±2.47 years. The response rate was 94%. Half of the students were females (n=70, 53%). The mean knowledge and practice scores of the students were 15.29±2.32 out of 21, and 4±1.19 out of 6, respectively. The students with a higher grade point average score acquired higher knowledge and attitude scores (p=0.00). A significant inverse correlation was found between the practice and the age of students (p=0.05). Conclusion: The results indicate the moderate level of knowledge and practice of dental students in Tehran regarding the oral health of diabetic patients. Educational interventions and revision of dental curricula may enhance the knowledge and practice of dental students in this respect.