Education on Occupational Health and Health Related Habits among Dental Students in Croatia

Scientific paper - Original scientific paper

• Author: Krešimir Matoš
• Author: Zrinka Jurec
• Author: Ivan Galić
• Author: Marin Vodanović
• Author's institution: (University Hospital of Split)
• Author's institution: (Zagreb University Hispital Center)
• Author's institution: University of Zagreb; School of Dental Medicine
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: BIOMEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE; Dental Medicine

Abstract (english)

Introduction: Occupational diseases are diseases caused by occupational exposures at the workplace, while diseases related to work are diseases caused by many factors, wherein the harmful work conditions are one of the possible causes. Dental medicine is a profession with a high risk of developing occupational diseases. The aim of this paper was to present the results of a survey about occupational health risks and health related habits among dental students at the School of Dental Medicine University of Zagreb and to show how this survey led to an improvement in education by introducing a new course into the dental curriculum. Participants and methods: Students of all years at the School of Dental Medicine University of Zagreb (total of 663) were offered to participate in a survey about occupational health risks and health related habits. Results: A questionnaire was completed by 351 students. 28.0% of male students and 22.5% of female students were smokers. During the first two years of study, up to 84.6% of students consumed alcoholic beverages at least once a week. Prior to enrollment in the university, 85.3% male and 77.6% female students were engaged in sports. The significant drop in the number of students who participated in sports was noticed in the first study year in both sexes. Student awareness of the health risks related to dental profession increases with the year of study. Most students believe that occupational diseases can be prevented. Conclusion: The results have shown that students enter the School of Dental Medicine with a relatively low level of awareness of the health hazards of dental profession. Although the level of awareness increases with years of study, harmful habits such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and the lack of physical activity also remain present in the later years of study.

Izvorni jezik

Abstract (croatian)

Uvod: Profesionalne bolesti su bolesti uzrokovane štetnim utjecajem radnoga mjesta, a bolesti vezane uz rad uzrokovane su mnogim čimbenicima, pri čemu su štetni radni uvjeti jedan od mogućih. Stomatologija je profesija s visokim rizikom od pojave profesionalnih bolesti. Svrha ovog rada je predstaviti rezultate ankete o profesionalnim bolestima i zdravstvenim navikama koja je provedena među studentima Stomatološkog fakulteta Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, te pokazati kako je poboljšala obrazovanje uvođenjem novog kolegija u nastavni plan.
Ispitanici i metode: Studentima svih godina na Stomatološkom fakultetu Sveučilišta u Zagrebu (ukupno 663) bilo je ponuđeno sudjelovanje u anketi o profesionalnim bolestima i zdravstvenim navikama.
Rezultati: Upitnik je ispunio 351 student – 28 posto studenata i 22,5 posto studentica su pušači. Tijekom prve dvije godine studija čak njih 84,6 posto konzumira alkohol najmanje jedanput na tjedan. Prije počeka studija 84,6 posto studenata i 77,6 posto studentica bavilo se sportom. Znatan pad broja studenata i studentica koji se bave sportom uočen je na prvoj godini studija. Svjesnost o zdravstvenim rizicima u stomatološkoj profesiji raste s godinom studija. Većina studenata smatra da profesionalne bolesti mogu biti spriječene.
Zaključak: Rezultati su pokazali da studenti upisuju dentalnu medicinu s razmjerno niskim znanjem o zdravstvenim opasnostima koje se pojavljuju u stomatološkoj profesiji. Iako razina znanja i svijesti raste s godinom studija, štetne navike kao što su pušenje, konzumiranje alkoholnih pića i nedostatak fizičke aktivnosti prisutne su i u višim godinama studija.

• Keywords (english): occupational health; dentistry
• Keywords (croatian): stomatološko obrazovanje, diplomsko; studenti stomatologije; profesionalne bolesti; Hrvatska
• Language: english
• Language: croatian
• Publication type: Scientific paper - Original scientific paper
• Publication status: Published
• Peer review: Peer review - international
• Publication version: Published version
• Journal title: Acta Stomatologica Croatica
• Numbering: vol. 50, no. 1, pp. 49-57
• p-ISSN: 0001-7019
• e-ISSN: 1846-0410
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.15644/asc50/1/7
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:127:396857
• Publication: 2016-03-05
• Document URL: https://hrcak.srce.hr/file/227478
• Type of resource: Text
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2024-03-20 11:16:46