J Oral Med Pain.  2022 Mar;47(1):38-51. 10.14476/jomp.2022.47.1.38.

The Extent of Awareness and Knowledge Regarding Temporomandibular Disorder among Korean College Students

• Park HS

• KMID: 2552205
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14476/jomp.2022.47.1.38

Abstract

Purpose
The purpose of this study was to analyze the extent of awareness and understanding of college students on temporomandibular disorder (TMD) and to search for avenues for raising public awareness and improving knowledge about TMD.
Methods
One thousand and one hundred and twenty one college students in Gyeonggi-do completed a questionnaire related to awareness, experience and knowledge of TMD and collected data were analyzed by Pearson’s chi-squared test.
Results
Women were more significantly aware of the terms, ‘TMD’ (p<0.001) and ‘jaw joint disease’ (p<0.001) than men. Third graders were more significantly aware of the terms, ‘TMD’ (p<0.001) and ‘jaw joint disease’ (p<0.001) than any other graders. Third graders the most frequently chose to visit department of dentistry for the treatment of TMD among three graders (p<0.001). Women more frequently chose to visit department of dentistry for the treatment of TMD than men (p<0.001). Health field subjects were more significantly aware of the terms, ‘TMD’ (p<0.001) and ‘jaw joint disease’ (p<0.001) than non health field subjects. Having more frequently visited department of dentistry for the treatment of TMD than non health field subjects (p<0.001), health field subjects more frequently chose to visit department of dentistry for the treatment of TMD in the future (p<0.001).
Conclusions
The level of awareness and knowledge of TMD was higher in women college students, health field subjects and third graders than men college students, non health field subjects and the rest of two graders, respectively. The higher the level of experience and education of the subject, the more aware the subject was of TMD. Therefore publicity activities and education through various routes are required to raise public awareness and knowledge of TMD. In addition, it is necessary to inform general public of the dentistry specialized for the accurate diagnosis and standardized treatment of TMD.

Keyword

Awareness; College students; Knowledge; Temporomandibular disorder; Understanding