Objective:To investigate the prehension status of outpatients for oral health care knowledge.Methods:Refering to scheme of oral health propaganda in West-Pacific area instituted by World Health Organization

self-designed questionnaire was used and 478 outpatients with diferent education levels were interviewed about the prehension for oral health care knowledge. The results were analyzed.Result:There was no difference among patients with different sexes in basic oral health care knowl- edge

but with regard to the question that there is association between cigarette and periodontal diseases

the prehension status of female patients was better than that of the male patients.Meanwhile

The prehension status of the patients with university e- ducation was better than that of the patients without university education

but generally

the correct rate was not high.Conclu- sion:The education level will affect the prehension status.The prehension status of outpatients for oral health care knowledge is not ideal.We must emphasize the importance of the oral health care and the oral health care knowledge education.