Given to Dentistry Students the Effect of Geriatric Oral Dental Health Training on the Attitudes of the Elderly

Abstract

Abstract Objective It was aimed to evaluate the effect of oral-dental health education on the attitudes of dentistry students toward the elderly. Material and Method: The universe of the study, which was planned as interventional, consists of 4th and 5th-grade students of ****University Faculty of Dentistry. The Kogan Aged Attitude scale was applied before and after the training given by 15 faculty members who have expertise in different subjects, with a three-day, 20-hour course program. This study, which was carried out as a pre-test and post-test, was supported by the Scientific and Technological Research Council and 30 students participated in the study due to the limited educational activity support quota. The data were evaluated using in computer and statistical analyzes were made. Results Thirty students voluntarily participated in the study, 40% of the students were male, 60% were female, and the mean age was 22.93 ± 1.63. While 40% of the students participating in the study are 4th-grade students, 60% are 5th-grade students. While the mean score of the scale before the education was 194.6 ± 39.06, it was determined as 211.63 ± 42.31 after the education. The difference between the mean score of the scale before the education and after the education is statistically significant. Conclusion The significant difference between the education organized with the support of the Scientific and Technological Research Council and the students before and after education shows that education has a significant effect on the elderly attitude of students.