Muruganandhan Jayanandan, Vishnu Priya Veeraraghavan, G Sujatha, S K Bharkavi Indu
{"title":"Assessing knowledge, attitude, and practice of mouthwash use in an urban community sample: A cross-sectional study in Chennai, India.","authors":"Muruganandhan Jayanandan, Vishnu Priya Veeraraghavan, G Sujatha, S K Bharkavi Indu","doi":"10.4103/jomfp.jomfp_137_25","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Mouthwash, one of the important oral hygiene measures, is not regularly used by a majority of the population. Understanding their reasons can lead to research in developing mouthwashes with greater tolerance and compliance. The present survey is designed to assess the Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) of mouthwash use among adult individuals in a suburban setting.</p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>A validated online KAP questionnaire was administered to adult volunteers of Chennai city, India, from 3 January to 3 February 2025.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>265 respondents gave valid responses. 138 (52%) were male and 127 (48%) were female, with a mean age of 27.8 years. 111 (41.9%) respondents use a mouthwash, and 154 are non-users (58.1%). 37% of users reported a single daily frequency of mouthwashing. A majority (54%) reported a mouthwashing time between 10 and 30 s. 28% report waiting for 15 min before consuming food/liquids. 94% are aware that mouthwashing alone is not enough for oral health. More than half (55%) are aware that mouthwashes can have side effects. The mean KAP scores were 19.06, 18.05, and 21.80, respectively. KAP correlated strongly among the respondents (<i>P</i> < 0.01). Regression analysis of scores revealed socio-demographic differences.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The obtained scores revealed less than adequate KAP of mouthwash use in the population. This critical gap should be bridged by effective public health education and awareness programs. The data regarding the non-adherence and side effects of mouthwash can lead to further research in developing better products.</p>","PeriodicalId":38846,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology","volume":"29 3","pages":"409-415"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0000,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12507373/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.4103/jomfp.jomfp_137_25","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2025/9/26 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"Medicine","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: Mouthwash, one of the important oral hygiene measures, is not regularly used by a majority of the population. Understanding their reasons can lead to research in developing mouthwashes with greater tolerance and compliance. The present survey is designed to assess the Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) of mouthwash use among adult individuals in a suburban setting.
Methodology: A validated online KAP questionnaire was administered to adult volunteers of Chennai city, India, from 3 January to 3 February 2025.
Results: 265 respondents gave valid responses. 138 (52%) were male and 127 (48%) were female, with a mean age of 27.8 years. 111 (41.9%) respondents use a mouthwash, and 154 are non-users (58.1%). 37% of users reported a single daily frequency of mouthwashing. A majority (54%) reported a mouthwashing time between 10 and 30 s. 28% report waiting for 15 min before consuming food/liquids. 94% are aware that mouthwashing alone is not enough for oral health. More than half (55%) are aware that mouthwashes can have side effects. The mean KAP scores were 19.06, 18.05, and 21.80, respectively. KAP correlated strongly among the respondents (P < 0.01). Regression analysis of scores revealed socio-demographic differences.
Conclusion: The obtained scores revealed less than adequate KAP of mouthwash use in the population. This critical gap should be bridged by effective public health education and awareness programs. The data regarding the non-adherence and side effects of mouthwash can lead to further research in developing better products.
期刊介绍：
The journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology [ISSN:print-(0973-029X, online-1998-393X)] is a tri-annual journal published on behalf of “The Indian Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathologists” (IAOMP). The publication of JOMFP was started in the year 1993. The journal publishes papers on a wide spectrum of topics associated with the scope of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, also, ensuring scientific merit and quality. It is a comprehensive reading material for the professionals who want to upgrade their diagnostic skills in Oral Diseases; allows exposure to newer topics and methods of research in the Oral-facial Tissues and Pathology. New features allow an open minded thinking and approach to various pathologies. It also encourages authors to showcase quality work done by them and to compile relevant cases which are diagnostically challenging. The Journal takes pride in maintaining the quality of articles and photomicrographs.
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：
京公网安备 11010802042870号
