Abstract
ObjectivesWe examined nurse practitioners’ use and opinions of recommended communication techniques for the promotion of oral health as part of a Maryland state-wide oral health literacy assessment. Use of recommended health-literate and patient-centered communication techniques have demonstrated improved health outcomes.MethodsA 27-item self-report survey, containing 17 communication technique items, across 5 domains, was mailed to 1,410 licensed nurse practitioners (NPs) in Maryland in 2010. Use of communication techniques and opinions about their effectiveness were analyzed using descriptive statistics. General linear models explored provider and practice characteristics to predict differences in the total number and the mean number of communication techniques routinely used in a week.ResultsMore than 80% of NPs (N = 194) routinely used 3 of the 7 basic communication techniques: simple language, limiting teaching to 2–3 concepts, and speaking slowly. More than 75% of respondents believed that 6 of the 7 basic communication techniques are effective. Sociodemographic provider characteristics and practice characteristics were not significant predictors of the mean number or the total number of communication techniques routinely used by NPs in a week. Potential predictors for using more of the 7 basic communication techniques, demonstrating significance in one general linear model each, were: assessing the office for user-friendliness and ever taking a communication course in addition to nursing school.ConclusionsNPs in Maryland self-reported routinely using some recommended health-literate communication techniques, with belief in their effectiveness. Our findings suggest that NPs who had assessed the office for patient-friendliness or who had taken a communication course beyond their initial education may be predictors for using more of the 7 basic communication techniques. These self-reported findings should be validated with observational studies. Graduate and continuing education for NPs should increase emphasis on health-literate and patient-centered communication techniques to increase patient understanding of dental caries prevention. Non-dental healthcare providers, such as NPs, are uniquely positioned to contribute to preventing early childhood dental caries through health-literate and patient-centered communication.
Highlights
More than 80% of nurse practitioners (NPs) (N = 194) routinely used 3 of the 7 basic communication techniques: simple language, limiting teaching to 2–3 concepts, and speaking slowly
Sociodemographic provider characteristics and practice characteristics were not significant predictors of the mean number or the total number of communication techniques routinely used by NPs in a week
Our findings suggest that NPs who had assessed the office for patient-friendliness or who had taken a communication course beyond their initial education may be predictors for using more of the 7 basic communication techniques
Summary
This study provides an assessment of the communication techniques of nurse practitioners (NPs) in Maryland, as part of a statewide oral health literacy assessment of dentists, dental hygienists, physicians, nurse practitioners, and the public [1,2,3,4,5,6,7]. Maryland adults with children younger than 6 years old in the household demonstrated low oral health literacy; they reported limited understanding of how to prevent early childhood caries [5]. Oral health literacy is a term which refers to a match in the skills of the public and the demands of the healthcare providers and systems to optimize oral health and to prevent dental caries [3,8]. Improving the nation’s oral health means reducing or eliminating the mismatch between the abilities of the public to obtain, understand, and act upon oral health information, and the expectations and characteristics of healthcare providers and healthcare systems who provide oral health information and services [3,9]
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