Knowledge and attitudes of Physical Education undergraduates regarding dental trauma

Ana Helena Gonçalves de Alencar, Kely Firmino Bruno, Maria do Carmo Matias Freire, Marina Rodrigues de Moraes, Luana Braz de Queiroz

Introduction: Dental trauma may result in pulpal and periodontal injuries, which cause a negative impact on life quality. Its prognosis is highly influenced by the emergency care. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the self-perceived knowledge of undergraduate students Physical Education and attitudes regarding dental trauma. Methods: Cross-sectional study using a questionnaire to collect information on the profile, knowledge and attitudes of Physical Education undergraduates from four universities in the municipality of Goiânia, Goiás state, Brazil, regarding emergency care for dental trauma patients. Results: Among the 392 participants, most were male (54.3%) and aged between 20 and 29 years (59.2%). Less than half of them (46.5%) received first-aid training during the course, only 4.4% of them received information on dental trauma, and 74.1% reported lack of knowledge about the subject. Among those who affirmed having some knowledge, 95.6% were dissatisfied with it and did not feel prepared to help the patients. Most (95.7%) of those who were not satisfied with their knowledge declared they would like to receive more information on it. Conclusions: The Physical Education undergraduate students participating in our study reported insufficient knowledge about dental trauma and inaptitude to provide emergency care to victims of this type of injury. This reveals the need to develop educational strategies to increase their knowledge in order to better contribute to oral health promotion.

Keywords: Dental trauma. Prevention. Dentoalveolar trauma.

How to cite: Alencar AHG, Bruno KF, Freire MCM, Moraes MR, Queiroz LB. Knowledge and attitudes of Physical Education undergraduates regarding dental trauma. Dental Press Endod. 2012 Jan-Mar;2(1):74-9.

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