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. 2023 May 2;11(5):119.
doi: 10.3390/dj11050119.

Knowledge and Attitude towards Probiotics among Dental Students and Teachers: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Ksenia Babina  1 , Dilara Salikhova  1 , Maria Polyakova  1 , Alexandr Zaytsev  2 , Anna Egiazaryan  1 , Nina Novozhilova  1
Affiliations

Knowledge and Attitude towards Probiotics among Dental Students and Teachers: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Ksenia Babina et al. Dent J (Basel). .

Abstract

This cross-sectional survey assessed the knowledge of and the attitude towards probiotics of dental students and academics at Sechenov University, Moscow, Russia. Our questionnaire consisted of 15 questions divided into 3 sections: respondents' sociodemographic data, knowledge on probiotics, and attitude towards probiotics. The data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test, Fisher's exact test, and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. Out of the 658 questionnaires distributed, a total of 239 questionnaires were completed by the undergraduates, yielding a response rate of 39.6%, and 54 by the teaching staff (response rate = 100%). Most students (53.6%) and teachers (55.5%) had a fair knowledge of probiotics (p = 0.3135). A vast majority of dental students (97.9%) and all teachers had a positive attitude towards probiotics, with higher mean scores among academics (p < 0.001). A positive weak correlation was found between knowledge and attitude (Spearman r = 0.17, p = 0.0027). The results obtained reveal the need for more evidence-based educational trainings for university teachers and a course on probiotics to be included in the curriculum for dental students.

Keywords: academics; attitude; dental students; knowledge; probiotics; survey.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Students’ distribution by year of education.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Students’ distribution by country of origin.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Respondents’ knowledge of probiotics’ benefits for health conditions.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Respondents’ knowledge of probiotics’ benefits for oral health conditions.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Respondents’ knowledge of bacterial species that include probiotic strains.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Correlation between knowledge and attitude.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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