L Swetha Reddy1, Dolar Doshi2, B Srikanth Reddy3, Suhas Kulkarni4, M Padma Reddy3, D Satyanarayana5, Pavan Baldava3. 1. Postgraduate Student, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Panineeya Institute of Dental Sciences and Hospital , Hyderabad, Telangana, India . 2. Professor, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Panineeya Institute of Dental Sciences and Hospital , Hyderabad, Telangana, India . 3. Reader, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Panineeya Institute of Dental Sciences and Hospital , Hyderabad, Telangana, India . 4. Professor and Head, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Panineeya Institute of Dental Sciences and Hospital , Hyderabad, Telangana, India . 5. Senior Lecturer, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Panineeya Institute of Dental Sciences and Hospital , Hyderabad, Telangana, India .
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Good oral health is important for an individual as well as social well-being. Occupational stress and work exhaustion in Information Technology (IT) professionals may influence the oral health and oral health related quality of life. AIM: To assess and compare self-reported obstacles for regular dental care and dental visits among IT professionals based on age, gender, dental insurance and working days per week. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1,017 IT professionals to assess the self-reported obstacles to regular oral health care in Hyderabad city, Telangana, India. The Dental Rejection of Innovation Scale (DRI-S) was employed in this study. Comparison between means of DRI-S based on variables was done using t-test and ANOVA. The association between variables and DRI-S was determined using Chi-square test. RESULTS: A total of 1017 participants comprising of 574 (56%) males and 443 (44%) females participated in the study. As age increased, a significant increase in mean DRI-S scores was seen for total and individual domains except for the "Situational" domain wherein higher mean score (9.42±2.5; p=0.0006) was observed among 30-39 years age group. Even though females reported higher mean scores for total and individual domains when compared to males, nevertheless significant difference was seen only for total (p=0.03) and "Lack of Knowledge" (p=0.001) domain. CONCLUSION: Self-reported obstacles to regular dental care was more with increasing age, increased number of working days per week, irregular dental visits and absence of dental insurance facility.
INTRODUCTION: Good oral health is important for an individual as well as social well-being. Occupational stress and work exhaustion in Information Technology (IT) professionals may influence the oral health and oral health related quality of life. AIM: To assess and compare self-reported obstacles for regular dental care and dental visits among IT professionals based on age, gender, dental insurance and working days per week. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1,017 IT professionals to assess the self-reported obstacles to regular oral health care in Hyderabad city, Telangana, India. The Dental Rejection of Innovation Scale (DRI-S) was employed in this study. Comparison between means of DRI-S based on variables was done using t-test and ANOVA. The association between variables and DRI-S was determined using Chi-square test. RESULTS: A total of 1017 participants comprising of 574 (56%) males and 443 (44%) females participated in the study. As age increased, a significant increase in mean DRI-S scores was seen for total and individual domains except for the "Situational" domain wherein higher mean score (9.42±2.5; p=0.0006) was observed among 30-39 years age group. Even though females reported higher mean scores for total and individual domains when compared to males, nevertheless significant difference was seen only for total (p=0.03) and "Lack of Knowledge" (p=0.001) domain. CONCLUSION: Self-reported obstacles to regular dental care was more with increasing age, increased number of working days per week, irregular dental visits and absence of dental insurance facility.