Conocimientos y prácticas sobre odontología amigable con el medio ambiente en estudiantes de primero a décimo semestre de la Universidad Santo Tomás, Floridablanca.

Abstract

Introduction: Dental practice depends on highly polluting processes which affect the environment. For this reason, the environmental friendly dentistry approach emerged. This approach implements sustainable practices which protect biodiversity and humans from the negative effects of the advancement of this industry. Objective: to determine the level of knowledge and practice about environmental friendly dentistry of students from 1st to 10th semester in Santo Tomas University, Floridablanca. Methodology: An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried based on a virtual questionnaire with 20 questions in which aspects of practice and general knowledge about environmental friendly dentistry were evaluated. Additionally, other variables such as gender, age, semester and socioeconomic status were analyzed. The practice and general knowledge about environmental friendly dentistry we’re categorized into low medium and high level depending on the number of correct answers. Differences in practice and knowledge regarding the Socio demographic variables were evaluated using Fisher’s Exact Test. This study was classified as a minimal risk research and it was approved by the ethics committee of Santo Tomas University. Results: A total of 272 questionnaires from 20 to 28 years-old students were analyzed. 78.3% of the participants were females and 36.5% we’re from the socioeconomic status level three. 75% of the participants were classified in the medium level category of knowledge, 55.5% in the high level category of practice and 81.2% into the medium level category for the questionnaire as a whole. No statistic differences were found regarding gender, age and socioeconomic status; however, regarding the questionnaire as a whole it was observed that 60% of the students classified into the low level category were from 1st to 5th semester (0.014). Conclusion: The level of knowledge of students about environmental friendly dentistry was medium, and the performance during the dental practice was high. Taking into account the overall performance, the participants were classified into the medium level category. The students who showed a low performance in the questionnaire as a whole belong, mostly, the first four semesters.