Awareness Regarding Oral Aphthous Ulcers and its Risk Factors Among BDS and MBBS Students-A Cross-Sectional Survey

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this paper was to assess the awareness regarding oral aphthous ulcers and its risk factors among BDS and MBBS students in private institute of Karachi, Pakistan. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional survey was conducted at a private institute of Karachi Pakistan for the duration of six months. Medical and dental students of age more than 18 years of either gender were enrolled in the study using non-probability convenience sampling technique. Pre-designed proforma was used to collect data regarding demographics, history of recurrent aphthous stomatitis and knowledge of oral aphthous ulcers and its risk factors. The knowledge score of 4 out of 6 was considered as adequate knowledge. SPSS version 25 was used to analyze data. RESULTS: Of 150 participants, the mean age was reported as 22.94±1.65 years (range: 21-25 years). In those 150 participants 46 were males (30.7%) and 104 were females (69.3%). Overall mean score of knowledge was 4.35±1.29. Wherein 73% had adequate knowledge regarding oral ulceration and its risk factors. The dental students had significantly higher proportion of adequate knowledge regarding oral ulceration than medical students [p=0.024]. CONCLUSION: Overall students had good knowledge of oral ulceration and its risk factors, wherein knowledge of dental students was better than medical students. KEYWORDS: Oral ulcers; Recurrent Aphthous stomatitis; awareness, oral ulceration, risk factors, eating habits