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. 2025 Jan-Feb;29(1):20-27.
doi: 10.4103/jisp.jisp_59_24. Epub 2025 Jun 10.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of medical students regarding periodontitis as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases: A knowledge, attitude, and practice study

Anal Rutvik Trivedi  1 , Shalini S Gupta  1 , Chintal Kaushal Vyas  2 , Vasumati I Patel  1 , Rutvik H Trivedi  3 , Neeta V Bhavsar  4 , Hiral A Parikh  5
Affiliations

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of medical students regarding periodontitis as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases: A knowledge, attitude, and practice study

Anal Rutvik Trivedi et al. J Indian Soc Periodontol. 2025 Jan-Feb.

Abstract

Background: Medical students often exhibit limited awareness of periodontitis as a significant risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) of medical students regarding periodontitis as a cardiovascular risk factor and their approaches to managing patients requiring dental care.

Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 501 medical students in Central Gujarat using a structured, self-administered questionnaire comprising 23 questions. Descriptive and inferential statistics, including t-tests, one-way analysis of variance, post hoc tests, Fisher's Exact Test, and Pearson's correlation, were applied.

Results: Postgraduate students demonstrated significantly higher knowledge scores than undergraduates (P < 0.01), with no statistically significant differences in attitudes or practices. A weak or negligible correlation was observed between KAPs (knowledge-practice: r = -0.013; attitude-practice: r = -0.006).

Conclusion: Periodontitis is an important yet under-recognized cardiovascular risk factor. Its inclusion in medical curricula, alongside other established risk factors, is warranted. Improved interdisciplinary education may enhance the quality of care for cardiovascular patients with periodontal disease.

Keywords: Cardiovascular disease; and practice; attitudes; knowledge; medical education; periodontal medicine; periodontitis; risk factors.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Pearson Correlation between knowledge, attitudes, and practices among medical students regarding periodontitis as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. A weak positive relationship between knowledge, attitudes, and practice is reported in this study. Attitude also has a weak positive relation with practice
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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