Knowledge of Periodontitis and Its Impact on Periodontal Health: A Comparative Observational Study in Final-Year Dentistry and Psychology Students
试验速览
- 阶段
- 不适用
- 状态
- 尚未招募
- 入组人数
- 60
- 主要终点
- Knowledge, attitudes, practices
研究概览
简要总结
This study aims to evaluate the level of knowledge regarding periodontal disease and its association with periodontal health status among health sciences students. An observational, cross-sectional, analytical, and comparative design will be conducted involving two cohorts: final-year Dentistry students and Psychology students from the Universitat Internacional de Catalunya (UIC).
A total of approximately 60 participants (30 per group) will be recruited using stratified random sampling. Eligible participants must be at least 18 years old and provide written informed consent. Students who have received periodontal treatment within the previous six months, present uncontrolled systemic diseases, or are pregnant or breastfeeding will be excluded.
Data collection will take place during a single clinical visit between January and April 2026 and will consist of two phases. First, participants will complete a validated Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) questionnaire assessing understanding of periodontitis, attitudes toward oral health, and daily oral hygiene behaviors. Knowledge scores will be categorized into low, medium, and high levels. Second, a comprehensive periodontal examination will be performed by a certified periodontist under standardized conditions, including plaque index, bleeding on probing, probing depth, gingival margin position, clinical attachment loss, and radiographic assessment. Periodontal status will be classified according to the 2018 EFP/AAP classification system using staging and grading criteria.
The primary outcome is the presence of periodontal disease (gingivitis or periodontitis). The main independent variable is the level of knowledge about periodontitis. Covariates include age, sex, oral hygiene habits, smoking status, perceived stress, and self-reported systemic conditions.
Statistical analysis will be conducted using SPSS, Stata, or R software. Descriptive statistics will summarize participant characteristics. Bivariate analyses will assess associations between knowledge level and periodontal disease using chi-square tests and appropriate parametric or non-parametric comparisons. Multivariate binary logistic regression will be applied to evaluate whether lower knowledge levels are independently associated with a higher prevalence of periodontal disease, adjusting for relevant covariates. Statistical significance will be set at p < 0.05.
The study will be conducted following ethical approval from the UIC Research Ethics Committee. Participation will be voluntary, confidentiality will be ensured through anonymized data handling, and participants diagnosed with periodontal disease will be referred for appropriate periodontal care.
详细描述
Periodontal disease (PD) is defined as a chronic, multifactorial inflammatory disease, characterized by the progressive destruction of the supporting tissues of the teeth. Its development mainly depends on two essential factors: the accumulation of bacterial biofilm and the host's immunoinflammatory response to pathogenic microorganisms. However, other factors also contribute to the onset and progression of the disease, both intraoral and extraoral, including poor oral hygiene, inadequate or harmful dietary habits, and various systemic factors.
The host response to bacterial invasion triggers a series of local inflammatory processes that manifest clinically through signs such as edema, erythema, and gingival bleeding. These manifestations not only affect the oral cavity but may also significantly influence overall systemic health, as PD has been associated with multiple systemic diseases, including diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, obesity, and pregnancy-related complications. Several studies have shown that the relationship between PD and these conditions is bidirectional: periodontal disease may exacerbate or predispose individuals to these pathologies, while, in turn, these conditions may worsen the progression of PD.
At a global level, PD is recognized as the sixth most prevalent disease worldwide, highlighting the importance of timely and appropriate diagnosis and treatment. In this regard, the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) and the European Federation of Periodontology (EFP) have proposed an updated classification of periodontal diseases, aimed at enabling more individualized diagnosis and more precise treatment planning. Among the most relevant changes are the redefinition of diagnostic criteria for gingivitis based on objective clinical signs, and the introduction of the concepts of staging and grading, which take into account disease severity, extent, and rate of progression.
Furthermore, this classification acknowledges that certain systemic conditions-such as diabetes mellitus and smoking-modify the grade of the disease, directly influencing treatment planning and the clinical prognosis of each patient.
Regarding therapeutic management, the literature emphasizes that prevention is the most effective measure to reduce the high prevalence of PD. Prevention is based on risk factor control and early detection of initial signs and symptoms. Adequate preventive strategies help avoid frequent complications such as dental sensitivity, halitosis, tooth mobility, and tooth loss, as well as reduce the impact of PD on various systemic diseases.
研究设计
- 研究类型
- Observational
- 观察模型
- Other
- 时间视角
- Cross Sectional
入排标准
- 性别
- All
- 接受健康志愿者
- 是
入选标准
- •Students enrolled in the Dentistry or Psychology degree programs at UIC.
- •Age 18 years or older.
- •Voluntary agreement to participate through signed informed consent.
排除标准
- •Periodontal treatment within the past 6 months.
- •Presence of uncontrolled systemic diseases that may affect periodontal status (e.g., uncontrolled diabetes, immunodeficiencies).
- •Pregnancy or breastfeeding, if deemed relevant by the Ethics Committee due to potential hormonal alterations affecting periodontal health.
- •Withdrawal or refusal of consent at any stage of the study.
研究组 & 干预措施
students of undergraduate program of dentistry
students of undergraduate program of psychology
结局指标
主要结局
Knowledge, attitudes, practices
时间窗: March 2026 to June 2026
Assess by means of a questionnaire the level of knowledge of periodontitis with a total score 0-24 by patient
次要结局
- Bleeding on probing(March 2026 to June 2026)
- Plaque index(March 2026 to June 2026)
- Recession(March 2026 to June 2026)
- Probing depth(March 2026 to June 2026)
- Lost of attachment(March 2026 to June 2026)