Oral Health Knowledge, Attitude, and Behavior Among Health Professions’ Students at Kabul University of Medical Sciences [Response to Letter]

"Oral Health Knowledge, Attitude, and Behavior Among Health Professions’ Students at Kabul University of Medical Sciences [Response to Letter]." Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dentistry, , pp. 41–42

This article responds to:

Thoughts about “Oral Health Knowledge, Attitude, and Behavior Among Health Professions’ Students at Kabul University of Medical Sciences” [Letter]

Dear editor

We appreciate your thoughtful comments on our paper and the insights you shared. Your engagement is invaluable, and we would like to address some considerations you raised regarding the findings of our study.

Primarily, our objective was to assess the oral hygiene practices of medical students, with a notable emphasis on dental students who exhibited a heightened awareness due to their extensive knowledge of oral health. The study revealed that individuals with a greater understanding of a particular issue tend to adopt more proactive measures. This underscores a broader message for governments, organizations, and stakeholders to invest in initiatives, campaigns, and events that enhance public awareness for improved oral health. Therefore, we respectfully disagree with the notion that these insights lack significance.

Moreover, it is essential to note that all participants in our study were university students, each aged 18 or older, in alignment with the exclusion criteria set by the research committee during the proposal stage. We were stringent in adhering to these criteria, and no participants below the age of 18 were allowed, ensuring compliance with ethical guidelines.

In terms of gender representation, we acknowledge the imbalance in the number of female participants compared to males. This discrepancy is recognized as a limitation of the study, and although efforts were made to achieve a balanced gender distribution, the overwhelming interest of female students necessitated flexibility. To enhance the robustness of our findings, future research endeavors will aim for a more equitable representation.

Concerning the questionnaire, it is important to clarify that we did not design it but utilized a pre-existing, validated instrument. The survey instrument’s narrow scope is a recognized limitation, and your feedback reinforces the need to broaden our surveys for more comprehensive insights.

In conclusion, we value your perspectives, and your feedback will undoubtedly contribute to refining the scope and methodology of future studies. We agree that expanding our surveys is crucial for achieving more nuanced and comprehensive outcomes.

Thank you for your engagement and thoughtful considerations.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this communication.