CROSS-CULTURAL-COMPARISON OF ATTITUDES AND OPINIONS ON FLUORIDES AND FLUORIDATION BETWEEN AUSTRALIA AND JAPAN

This paper reports on two studies exploring similarities and contrasts in knowledge, attitudes and opinions on fluorides and fluoridation of two culturally different population groups. The first study compares the attitudes and opinions of parents of primary (elementary) schoolch ildren in Melbourne, Australia, and Yokohama, Japan, and the second st udy compares the attitudes and opinions of dentists drawn from the sam e geographic areas. A self-administered questionnaire collected data o n 517 parents and 629 dentists. The questionnaires were of similar des ign and content for both parents and dentists. They included a series of knowledge and attitudinal statements on preventive dentistry and us e of fluorides. Attitudinal responses were measured on a 5-point agree -disagree Likert scale. Data were analyzed using both bivariate and mu ltivariate techniques. Australian parents appeared better informed on the benefits of water fluoridation and held more favorable opinions on fluorides and fluoridation than their Japanese counterparts. Similarl y, Australian dentists held more positive attitudes toward the use of fluorides and fluoridation than their Japanese peers. Cultural norms a nd experiences appear to shape parental attitudes, whereas the focus o f dental education and dental practice on restorative treatments in Ja pan appears to be a substantial influence on the attitudes and opinion s held by Japanese dentists.