RESUMO
The aim of this study was to compare oral health attitudes and behaviour between British and Chinese dental students. A cross-national survey using the Hiroshima University - Dental Behavioural Inventory (HU-DBI) was completed at the University of Leeds in Britain and West China University of Medical Sciences in China. In Britain and China, 192 of 266 and 180 of 303 dental students answered English and Chinese versions of the HU-DBI questionnaire, respectively. Data were statistically analyzed by logistic regression and the following results were obtained: 1) Self-reported gingival bleeding was more prevalent in Chinese students than in British students, although the number of students who had professional oral hygiene instruction was higher in China than in Britain; 2) 29% of Chinese students believed wearing dentures in old age was inevitable, whereas 7% of British students believed so; 3) Chinese students were substantially more concerned about the appearance of their teeth, gums and halitosis; and 4) 54% of Chinese students seek dental care only when symptoms arise, as compared to 13% of British students. In conclusion, bilateral comparison of countries using HU-DBI revealed interesting differences in oral health attitudes and behaviour, while the logistic regression model made it possible to differentiate British from Chinese students with a probability of nearly 95%.