ArticleBMC oral health2026
Environmental sustainability in dentistry: knowledge, attitudes, and practices among dental school personnel and students in Karachi, Pakistan.
Article in BMC oral health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
backgroundClimate change poses a significant threat to human health, necessitating the integration of sustainable practices across healthcare sectors. Dentistry contributes to environmental burden through resource-intensive procedures and waste generation, yet sustainability remains insufficiently addressed in dental education and practice, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. In Pakistan, existing efforts are largely limited to amalgam-related concerns, with minimal focus on comprehensive sustainability frameworks such as the Green Dental Model (GDM). This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to environmental sustainability among dental school personnel and students in Karachi, Pakistan. By identifying KAP levels, the study outlined the landscape of environmental sustainability.
methodsA cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted as part of an explanatory sequential mixed-methods project guided by the GDM framework. Data were collected using an adapted, validated structured questionnaire administered electronically to faculty, undergraduate and postgraduate students, and dental auxiliaries across 13 public and private dental schools in Karachi. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize KAP scores. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Pearson’s correlation analysis were applied to examine differences and associations, with significance levels set at p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively.
resultsA total of 3,356 participants were included in the analysis. Knowledge scores were generally moderate to good, with undergraduate and postgraduate students demonstrating higher mean scores compared with other groups. Attitudes toward environmental sustainability were more favorable among clinical faculty and postgraduate students. Practice scores were fair across all groups, with domain-specific variation. Higher engagement was observed in energy and water conservation practices, while gaps persisted in green procurement and infection control. Significant differences in KAP were observed across institutional sectors and participant groups.
conclusionThis study identified variability in environmental sustainability-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices among dental school personnel and students in Karachi. While awareness is relatively established, translation into consistent sustainable practices remains limited. Targeted educational strategies, institutional policy support, and infrastructure development are required to strengthen sustainability integration in dental education and clinical practice. These findings provide baseline evidence to inform future interventions and policy development in environmentally sustainable dentistry.
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