Table 7 Factors associated with the participants’ perception, knowledge, and attitude towards oral healthcare of older people

Nationality

1. Australia

2. Other

270

146

3.69 (0.75)

3.95(0.73)

t (414) = -3.41, p = < 0.001

3.80 (0.38)

3.72 (0.44)

t (414) = 1.73,

p = 0.09

4.41 (0.50)

4.59 (0.49)

t (414) = -3.54, p = < 0.001

Living location in the past ten years

1. Major city

2. Regional, rural, or remote area

3. Approximately equal time was spent in major and a regional, rural area

4. Not specified

233

134

40

9

3.72 (0.74)

3.79 (0.81)

4.03(0.63)

4.18 (0.42)

f (3,412) = 2.86,

p = 0.04

3.77 (0.37)

3.80 (0.43)

3.67 (0.50)

3.65 (0.25)

f (3,412) = 1.48,

p = 0.22

4.47 (0.50)

4.45 (0.55)

4.54 (0.44)

4.76 (0.32)

f (3,412) = 1.21,

p = 0.31

Post hoc test result

4 > 1*, 3 > 1*

University location

1. University having campuses both in major city and a regional or rural area

2. University having campuses only in major cities

3. University having campuses only in regional or rural area

297

62

57

3.74 (0.77)

3.79 (0.64)

3.95 (0.79)

f (2,413) = 1.93,

p = 0.15

3.76 (0.40)

3.78 (0.42)

3.77 (0.41)

f (2,413) = 0.04,

p = 0.96

4.49 (0.52)

4.52 (0.48)

4.34 (0.48)

f (2,413) = 2.15,

p = 0.12

Campus location

1. In a major city

2. In a regional or rural or remote area

3. Not specified

212

156

48

3.74 (0.65)

3.83 (0.81)

3.76 (0.96)

f (2,413) = 0.73,

p = 0.48

3.76 (0.37)

3.76 (0.44)

3.85 (0.38)

f (2,413) = 1.12,

p = 0.32

4.50 (0.49)

4.43 (0.51)

4.50 (0.59)

f (2,413) = 1.06,

p = 0.34

Age

1. 18 less than 30 years

2. 30 years or more

286

130

3.78 (0.72)

3.77 (0.81)

t (224.57) = 0.05,

p = 0.96

3.74 (0.39)

3.83 (0.42)

t (414)= -2.18,

p = 0.03

4.51 (0.46)

4.39 (0.59)

t (205.51) = 2.10,

p = 0.04

Gender

1. Female

2. Male

381

32

3.79 (0.73)

3.66 (0.99)

t (33.89) = 0.73,

p = 0.47

3.79 (0.38)

3.55 (0.56)

t (33.43) = 2.28,

p = 0.03

4.47 (0.50)

4.54 (0.60)

t (414)= -0.76,

p = 0.44

Provided oral healthcare to older people in your practicum experiences

1. Yes

2. No

332

84

3.86 (0.70)

3.45 (0.86)

t (414) = 4.52,

p = < 0.001

3.80 (0.40)

3.66 (0.41)

t (414) = 2.87,

p = 0.004

4.51 (0.48)

4.33 (0.59)

t (112.68) = 2.65,

p = 0.009

Received oral healthcare for older people education and training in Bachelor of Nursing program

1. Yes

2. No

242

174

3.88 (0.71)

3.63 (0.79)

t (414) = 3.32,

p = < 0.001

3.76 (0.41)

3.78 (0.39)

t (414)= -0.41,

p = 0.67

4.47 (0.50)

4.49 (0.53)

t (414)= -0.41,

p = 0.68

Received oral healthcare for older people education and training before current Bachelor of Nursing program

1. Yes

2. No

116

300

4.19 (0.62)

3.62 (0.74)

t (414) = 7.28,

p = < 0.001

3.81 (0.43)

3.75 (0.39)

t (414) = 1.52,

p = 0.12

4.60 (0.43)

4.42 (0.53)

t (253.19) = 3.59,

p = < 0.001

Oral healthcare behaviour

Brushing habit

1. Twice daily

2. Once daily or less than daily

3. Thrice daily or more

330

60

26

3.80 (0.76)

3.62 (0.69)

3.83 (0.76)

t (2,413) = 1.50,

p = 0.21

3.77 (0.41)

3.75 (0.37)

3.82 (0.46)

t (2,413) = 0.22,

p = 0.80

4.48 (0.51)

4.39 (0.51)

4.57 (0.48)

t (2,413) = 1.30,

p = 0.27

Flossing habit

1. Less than daily

2. Once daily

3. Twice daily

4. Other

224

128

45

19

3.65 (0.73)

3.92 (0.75)

4.04 (0.81)

3.75 (0.69)

t (3,412) = 5.67,

p = < 0.001

3.77 (0.37)

3.78 (0.41)

3.80 (0.54)

3.65 (0.36)

t (3,412) = 0.71,

p = 0.54

4.44 (0.51)

4.53 (0.48)

4.55 (0.52)

4.32 (0.60)

t (3,412) = 1.74,

p = 0.15

Post hoc test result

2 > 1**, 3 > 1*

Usual reason of visiting a dentist

1. Regular check-up

2. Problem or other reason

239

177

3.80 (0.74)

3.75 (0.77)

t (414) = 0.60,

p = 0.54

3.78 (0.41)

3.75 (0.40)

t (414) = 0.69,

p = 0.49

4.49 (0.5)

4.46 (0.5)

t (414) = 0.56,

p = 0.57

Anxiety regarding visiting a dentist

1. No anxiety

2. Have anxiety

166

250

3.81 (0.77)

3.76 (0.74)

t (414) = 0.60,

p = 0.55

3.79 (0.36)

3.76 (0.43)

t (414) = 0.82,

p = 0.41

4.48 (0.51)

4.47 (0.51)

t (414) = 0.33,

p = 0.73