IADR Abstract Archives
Young adults’ knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours related to oral health and the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages
Objectives: Consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages is not only a risk factor for oral health, but for overall health as well. There is an evidence gap around risk factors common to poor oral health and other non-communicable diseases for young adults. The aim of the project was to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours towards sugar-sweetened beverages and oral health of students between the ages of 17-24 at an Australian University.
Methods: A purpose-designed questionnaire was used to address specific knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours outcomes towards the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and oral health habits. Participants included two cohorts of first-year students in both the Bachelor of Health Sciences and Bachelor of Sciences programs. Delivery of survey was via an email link to an online questionnaire.
Results: With a response rate of 29% with n=160 in the target age range. Findings indicate that 95% of the young adults consume sugar-sweetened beverages twice a day, 66% also consume tap water at least twice a day. Most students had adequate knowledge about the detrimental affects of sugar-sweetened beverages to oral health and general health. However, there was a lack of knowledge about the oral health benefits of fluoridated water for those whose country of birth was not Australia.
Although 95% of these students believed that sugar-sweetened beverages would negatively affect their oral health and general health, only 60% of this population were seeking to cut down their current consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages.
Conclusions: Whilst most young adults are aware of the negative effects of sugar-sweetened beverages, a transfer of this knowledge to behaviour is not evident. Further research is needed to understand this dissonance. This body of research should also prompt effective health-promoting interventions targeting behaviour to decrease the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages whilst promoting fluoridated tap water as an alternative.
Methods: A purpose-designed questionnaire was used to address specific knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours outcomes towards the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and oral health habits. Participants included two cohorts of first-year students in both the Bachelor of Health Sciences and Bachelor of Sciences programs. Delivery of survey was via an email link to an online questionnaire.
Results: With a response rate of 29% with n=160 in the target age range. Findings indicate that 95% of the young adults consume sugar-sweetened beverages twice a day, 66% also consume tap water at least twice a day. Most students had adequate knowledge about the detrimental affects of sugar-sweetened beverages to oral health and general health. However, there was a lack of knowledge about the oral health benefits of fluoridated water for those whose country of birth was not Australia.
Although 95% of these students believed that sugar-sweetened beverages would negatively affect their oral health and general health, only 60% of this population were seeking to cut down their current consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages.
Conclusions: Whilst most young adults are aware of the negative effects of sugar-sweetened beverages, a transfer of this knowledge to behaviour is not evident. Further research is needed to understand this dissonance. This body of research should also prompt effective health-promoting interventions targeting behaviour to decrease the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages whilst promoting fluoridated tap water as an alternative.