Assessment of knowledge, attitudes, and behavior on oral health in army personnels: A cross-sectional study

Objectives: Soldiers’ working environment is difficult, and they are supposed to withstand extreme conditions, so they cannot focus on hygiene, general health, or oral health. Maintaining optimal oral hygiene is crucial for all army personnel, whose physical fitness and operational efficiency are key components of their professional lives. The present study aims to assess the knowledge, attitude, and behavior of army personnel in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, regarding oral health. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted over a period of 6 months from June 2024 to November 2024. Army personnel who were present during the study and willing to participate were included, while those undergoing training, with medical conditions preventing participation, or unwilling to take part were excluded from the study. Permission was obtained from the Army Headquarters, ARTAC, Shimla, before the study began. The sample size was calculated to be 400. To evaluate participant’s knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding oral health, a standardized questionnaire was used. Results: A total of 437 participants responded to the questionnaire and all the data were considered for the analysis. In our study, only 37.3% of participants knew very little about oral health, whereas 62.4% knew a lot. Out of all the participants, 43.4% had a favorable attitude about oral health, whereas 57.6% had a negative opinion. In terms of behavior, only 0.5% exhibited inadequate behavior, while 99.5% of participants have shown adequate oral health behavior. Conclusion: This study provides valuable details on the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding oral health among army personnel in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. Most of them demonstrated a generally good level of knowledge and positive oral health behaviors, while some of the participants showed negative attitudes toward oral health. Significant gaps in understanding specific areas and some misconceptions were identified.