Abstract
BackgroundThe present study aimed to investigate the association between oral health literacy and oral health behaviors among North Korean defectors.MethodsThis study involved the collection of self-reported questionnaires from 123 North Korean defectors visited a dental clinic that offered complimentary services, to receive dental treatment in a metropolitan area of South Korea from December 2017 to April 2018. Oral health literacy was measured with the Test of Korean Functional Health Literacy in Dentistry (TOKFHLiD), which consists of 30 items concerning verbal oral health literacy and 42 items concerning functional oral health literacy (28 items for reading comprehension and 14 items for numeracy). In addition, the questionnaire contains 15 and 14 items related to demographic characteristics and oral health behaviors (interest, lifestyle, diet, prevention), respectively, for a total of 101 items.ResultsThe mean oral health literacy score was 44 (out of a maximum possible score of 72). Oral health literacy and oral health behaviors were positively correlated (r = 0.526, P < 0.001), and oral health literacy also had a significant effect on oral health behaviors (Beta = 0.26, 95% CI: 0.04–0.33). However, although functional oral health literacy had a significant effect on oral health behaviors (Beta = 0.20, 95% CI: 0.01–0.43), verbal oral health literacy did not (Beta = 0.13, 95% CI: − 0.06-037).ConclusionsEducational interventions are needed to improve oral health literacy, and thus oral health behaviors, as a part of the health promotion measures undertaken to facilitate the stable adjustment of North Korean defectors in South Korean society.
Highlights
The present study aimed to investigate the association between oral health literacy and oral health behaviors among North Korean defectors
We aimed to provide foundational data for the development of customized education programs, tailored to the verbal comprehension level of North Korean defectors, and implement relevant strategies in order to promote their adjustment to South Korean society
The results showed that the mean oral health literacy score was 44 out of a maximum possible score of 72, with a mean verbal oral health literacy score of 14 and mean functional oral health literacy score of 30
Summary
The present study aimed to investigate the association between oral health literacy and oral health behaviors among North Korean defectors. Some factors that hinder the use of healthcare services include difficulties with “understanding doctor’s or nurses’ explanation,” “communicating opinions to the doctor during consultation about a disease,” “care procedure,” and “taking drugs or getting treatment.”. This calls for special attention to the health management of this vulnerable part of the population [8]. South Koreans and North Koreans use a similar language, communication difficulties caused by differences in cultural background constitute the greatest difficulty for North Koreans in their use of medical services This indirectly suggests that there may be a barrier hindering the use of dental health services and the acquisition of oral health information. Identifying these difficulties using instruments for measuring oral health literacy may provide data useful for the promotion of oral health in North Korean defectors
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