Evaluation of knowledge on medication and healthcare in dental patients

Abstract

There are few studies about the population knowledge on health. This paper investigates the knowledge on health and use of medication and remedies in office patients of a Dental Faculty of Southern Brazil. A questionnaire which included questions related to health and use and knowledge of medications was used. The sample consisted of 89 patients. The majority of them (58.3%) believe that general diseases and oral diseases are caused by individual or social responsibility. Most patients (55.1%) refer to follow strictly the prescriptor’s instructions. Less than half of the interviewees (44.9%) had already taken medications indicated by laymen. Although the sample was awaiting for a dental appointment, 50.6% denied having any health problems. The majority of the interviewees (58.4%) did not report problems on following a prescription. However, when they were given choices, almost 80% of the sample reminded hindrances as price and side effects. After analyzing the data we can observe the lack of knowledge of people in relation to the subject health, especially medication.