KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE, AND PRACTICES REGARDING CLIMATE CHANGE AND ITS ORAL HEALTH EFFECTS AMONG DENTAL HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS IN INDIA. A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Background: Climate change is increasingly recognized as a major public health threat. Despite its growing relevance, the implications for oral health and the preparedness of future dental professionals remain underexplored. This study assessed dental students' knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) regarding climate change and its effects on oral health. Materials and Methods: Across-sectional study was conducted using a validated self-administered questionnaire comprising 29 closed-ended items across three KAP domains among dental students. Descriptive statistics summarized participant responses, while the Chi-square tests assessed  associations between categorical variables, and independent t-tests and one-way ANOVA compared mean KAP scores across groups, with Tukey’s HSD for post hoc differences. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: More than half (55.8%) of students demonstrated good knowledge, with CRI students recording the highest mean knowledge score (11.78 ± 1.57). Knowledge scores differed significantly by year of study (p = 0.004). First-year students showed the highest attitude scores (8.52 ± 1.08; p < 0.001); however, 57.6% expressed unfavorable attitudes. Practices were the weakest domain, with only 45.6% exhibiting good climate-conscious behaviors (highest: first-year; 5.62 ± 1.61; lowest: third-year; 2.52 ± 2.07). Gender (p = 0.027) and year of study (p < 0.001) were significantly associated with practice scores. Significant positive correlations were found between KAP (p < 0.01), indicating mutually reinforcing domains. Conclusion: Strengthening curriculum integration and promoting climate-resilient behavior change among future dental professionals are essential to support environmentally responsible oral healthcare, ultimately ensuring quality care for the community.