Oral and dental health-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors and first aid knowledge in dental trauma among maritime students.

Abstract

Background: Oral and dental health is an integral component of general health and quality of life. Maritime settings present specific challenges because of limited access to professional dental care during prolonged voyages. Although oral health problems and dental emergencies are well documented among active seafarers, evidence on oral health-related knowledge, attitudes, behav-iors, and dental trauma first aid preparedness among maritime students remains limited. This study evaluated oral and dental health-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors, as well as dental trauma first aid knowledge, among maritime students.

Material and methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted between June and December 2025 among maritime students in Türkiye using an online structured questionnaire. A total knowledge score was calculated from correct responses to oral health and dental trauma first aid items. Associations between knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors were analyzed using Spearman correlation and Mann-Whitney U tests (p < 0.05).

Results: A total of 206 participants were included (mean age: 21.10 ± 1.75 years). Participants demonstrated generally positive attitudes toward oral and dental health and adequate knowledge of basic preventive practices. However, first aid knowledge related to dental trauma - particularly tooth avulsion - was limited, with a high proportion of "not sure" and clinically inappropriate responses in scenario-based questions. A weak positive correlation was observed between total knowledge score and attitude score (ρ = 0.196, p = 0.005). Knowledge scores were significantly higher among participants who reported checking the fluoride content of toothpaste (p = 0.001).

Conclusions: Despite positive attitudes toward oral health, maritime students showed insufficient first aid knowledge of dental trauma, highlighting a clear knowledge-behavior gap and the need for structured, practice-based training within maritime education.