Sugarless carbonated drinks and the students of the University of Hong Kong

Abstract

Aim: The aims of this community health project were to investigate the popularity of sugarless carbonated drinks among the students of The University of Hong Kong (HKU) and their knowledge on these drinks, and to improve their knowledge on the effects of consuming carbonated drinks on dental health. Methods: This study included a questionnaire survey conducted in February 2023. The survey participants were HKU students recruited using a purposive sampling method in the main campus of HKU. The survey questionnaire had 20 questions, and was divided into four sections: general personal information, knowledge regarding carbonated drinks, consumption of carbonated drinks, and knowledge on dental erosion. An individualized face-to-face interview was conducted using the questionnaire. Upon completion of the questionnaire, a one-on-one oral health education on dental erosion was provided through the use of a brochure. Results: A total of 235 HKU students (42% men) participated in this study. Most (85%) of them were undergraduate students and they came from all ten faculties of HKU, with around half (n=116, 49%) studying in the STEM-based faculties (Science, Engineering, Medicine, and Dentistry). The vast majority (94%) of the interviewees were aware of the presence of sugarless carbonated drinks on the market. Compared with the non-STEM students, a higher proportion of the STEM students knew more than one ingredient (44% vs 29%) in the sugarless carbonated drinks and a lower proportion of them did not know (23% vs. 36%, p=0.038). Slightly more than one third (37%) of the participants were frequently consumed sugarless carbonated drinks, at least 1-2 times a week. More than half (53%) of the interviewees knew that sugarless carbonated drinks can cause dental erosion. STEM students had better knowledge on dental erosion than the non-STEM students. Conclusions: Consumption of sugarless carbonated drinks is moderately popular among HKU students. They have a high awareness of sugarless carbonated drinks but their knowledge about of these drinks, including the ingredients and the impacts on health, needs to be improved. In this project, we had successfully delivered oral health education on sugarless carbonated drinks and dental erosion to the participants. We recommend that the health professionals and the government to provide more oral health education to the young adults in Hong Kong about the effects of consuming carbonated drinks, both sugar-containing and sugarless, on general health and dental health. The dentists in Hong Kong. should pay more attention to the problem of dental erosion in their young adult patients and increase their patients’ awareness and knowledge on this topic.