Oral Health Attitudes Research Articles

Comparison of the Short Time Effect of an Oral Hygiene Education in Four Sessions via Quantitative Light-Induced Fluorescence Technology Versus Disclosing Agents in Children: A Randomized, Crossover Clinical Trial

Objectives: The aim of this study is to compare the effectiveness of Qscan plus™ (AIOBIO, Seoul, Korea) based on quantitative light-induced fluorescence (QLF) technology and disclosing agents in oral health programs in children. Methods: A randomized crossover study was conducted for Korean children aged 6–11 years. Fifty-eight participants (29 to use Qscan plus™ first and 29 to use the disclosing agent first) were enrolled in this study. The participants were randomly divided into two groups. One group was assigned to brush with Qscan plus™, while the other group brushed with disclosed plaque visualization. One month later, the groups switched procedures. A total of 39 participants were analyzed, excluding those lost during the trial. There was no adverse event during the trial. The patient hygiene performance (PHP) index was used to assess oral hygiene status, and questionnaires about oral health behavior and attitude were completed. The data were analyzed using repeated-measure analysis of variance, with a significance level of p < 0.05. Results: The PHP score decreased significantly on post-brushing and follow-up compared to baseline in both methods (p < 0.001), but there was no significant difference between the two methods. After oral hygiene education, participants’ brushing time increased, and their oral care attitudes improved. More participants preferred the Qscan device to the disclosed plaque visualization because it is more easily noticeable. Conclusions: The Qscan device has a similar educational effect as disclosing agents, and can be used as a supplementary tool to encourage children in oral hygiene education.

Dental Hygienists' Influence on Oral Health Knowledge, Attitudes and Behavioural of Patients and Effectiveness on Improving Patients' Periodontal Status—Evaluations of a Hospital Based Oral Hygiene Training Program in China

ABSTRACTObjectivesTo evaluate the possibility of integrating dental hygienists (DHs) into the dental field in China, and investigate its effectiveness on improving patients' knowledge, attitudes, self‐care behaviours as well as their periodontal status.MethodsA hospital‐based oral hygiene training program was developed at Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital's (SRRSH) Dental Clinic with the support of two registered DHs from Loma Linda University in California. A questionnaire evaluating oral health knowledge, attitudes and behaviours was conducted in patients who visited SRRSH's Dental Clinic. Scores of oral health knowledge and proportions of positive oral health attitudes and favourable self‐care behaviours were estimated between patients treated and not treated by DHs (DH group and NDH group). The improvements in patients' periodontal conditions following non‐surgical periodontal therapy (NSPT) administered by DHs at the Dental Clinic of SRRSH, as assessed through the measurement of periodontal pocket depths and the incidence of bleeding upon probing.ResultsPatients in DH group exhibited relatively better results in several aspects of oral health knowledge, attitudes and behaviours, compared to those in NDH group. Moreover, NPST performed by DHs significantly improved the periodontal status of the patients, with a remarkably reduction in periodontal pocket depth and bleeding on probing.ConclusionsIntegrating DHs into SRRSH's Dental Clinic showed effectiveness in enhancing patients' oral health knowledge, attitudes, behaviours and succeeded in improving patients' periodontal status. This program demonstrated that incorporating DHs into dental care team is not only practical but also enhances the value of the dental workforce in China.

Implementation and Effectiveness of a Nurse-Led Oral Hygiene Program for Schoolchildren: A Quasi-Experimental Study.

Good oral hygiene is essential for schoolchildren's well-being. However, lack of knowledge, negative attitudes, and poor oral hygiene practices may predispose to oral-related diseases. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of a nurse-led oral hygiene program on schoolchildren's knowledge, attitudes, and practices. A quasi-experimental design with pre-and-post-test was used. Using the convenience sampling technique, we recruited 400 schoolchildren, aged 11-12 and in grades 5-6, from two primary schools in Egypt. The study was conducted from September 2022 to May 2023. The Oral Hygiene Program served as the primary intervention. This program contains health education topics (e.g., the importance of oral hygiene, techniques for effective tooth brushing, and dietary choices that promote dental health). Three visits were conducted (Visit 1: introduction of the program purpose and objectives and pre-test scores collection, Visit 2: implementation of oral hygiene topics, and Visit 3: post-test scores collection). We used three self-report instruments (Oral Health Knowledge Questionnaire, Hiroshima University's Dental Behavioral Inventory, and Oral Health Practice Questionnaire) for pre- and post-test. Paired T test and Pearson correlation analysis were used for data analysis. After the intervention program, the oral hygiene program effectively enhanced schoolchildren's knowledge, attitudes, and practices. The post-intervention mean scores were 7.83±0.488 (knowledge), 6.63±1.7 (practices), and 9.33±1.1 (attitudes). High statistically significant differences were noted between schoolchildren's oral health knowledge, attitudes, and practices before and after implementing the program (p=0.000). There were enhancements in the level of knowledge, with improved positive attitudes and satisfactory practices among schoolchildren after the implementation of the oral hygiene program. Integrating oral hygiene programs into the general curriculum in primary schools and training school nurses, caregivers, and teachers in implementing oral hygiene programs could improve oral health knowledge, attitudes, and practices for preventing oral problems.

Oral health knowledge, attitudes, and practices among female public health and nutrition university students in Qatar

ObjectivesThe present study aimed to determine oral health (OH) related knowledge, attitudes, and practices among Public Health (PH) and Nutrition (NU) students at Qatar University.MethodA cross-sectional study was conducted using a pre-validated questionnaire comprising 36 items covering demographics, knowledge, attitudes and perception of oral health practices. Data were analyzed descriptively (means, standard deviations, proportions) and inferentially using statistical tests including t-tests for comparing means, and chi-square tests for examining associations between categorical variables.ResultsA total of 112 female undergraduate students participated, including 41 from PH and 71 from NU programs (response rate for both courses = 59.5%). The mean age was 21.8, while 23% were Qataris and 77% non-Qataris. Overall, students demonstrated good knowledge of OH (67.65%), with the PH group scoring higher (70.7%) than NU (65.35%). Knowledge regarding dental plaque was low for both groups (31.0%). Attitudes toward OH varied among participants. Most students reported practicing brushing with fluoridated toothpaste and demonstrated high knowledge regarding the association between poor OH and general health (95%).ConclusionOverall, PH and NU undergraduate students exhibited relatively good knowledge of OH, however, demonstrated a range of attitudes and practices, including suboptimal ones. Integration of OH education into the PH and NU curriculum is warranted, along with enhanced interprofessional education to promote self-awareness and improve patient oral health outcomes.

Periodontal and Caries Status in Relation to Oral Health Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behavior of Medical and Dental Students in Taxila, Pakistan

Periodontal and Caries Status in Relation to Oral Health Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behavior of Medical and Dental Students in Taxila, Pakistan

Assessment of the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices for Optimal Oral Health among Adults in Benin City, Nigeria: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: Oral health is crucial for overall well-being, involving the maintenance of good oral hygiene to prevent diseases. Despite global progress, gaps persist in developing countries, leading to higher oral disease prevalence. Factors such as awareness, access, cultural beliefs, and dental phobia significantly impact oral health. Knowledge, attitudes, and practices also play critical roles. Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to the oral health of adults in Benin City, Edo State. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 198 adults attending a dental outreach program in three local government areas (Ikpoba-Okha, Oredo, and Egor) in Benin City, Edo State. A sample size of 200 was determined using the Cochrane formula. A researcher-administered proforma was used for data collection, assessing socio-demographics, oral health knowledge, attitudes, and practices. A validated questionnaire was used for knowledge assessment, and a Likert scale was employed for attitude measurement. The Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI-S) and the Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT) index were used for clinical examination. Data were analyzed using IBM® SPSS® Statistics version 25. Results: The mean oral health knowledge, attitudes, and practices among respondents were 57.5%, 83.1%, and 55.0%, respectively. Conclusion: The study revealed fair knowledge and practices but good attitudes among respondents. Notable gaps exist in oral hygiene knowledge and practices, although the positive attitudes observed may support effective oral health promotion efforts. Update Dent. Coll. j: 2024; 14(2): 3-8

The Impact of Short-Form Video and Optimistic Bias on Engagement in Oral Health Prevention: Integrating a KAP Model.

College students are recognized as a demographic particularly susceptible to higher oral health risks due to irregular and unhealthy habits. While previous research has underscored these risks through descriptive studies within this group, a significant gap persists in the literature regarding the impact of contemporary media, specifically oral-health-related content, on the engagement in oral health prevention among Chinese college students. To address this gap, this study, guided by the extended knowledge-attitude-practice (KAP) theory model, explores the direct, mediated, and serially mediated mechanisms through which exposure to oral health short-form videos on Douyin influences their participation in oral health prevention. An empirical cross-sectional online survey was conducted, with valid data (N = 421) analyzed using descriptive statistics and hierarchical regression. Mediation and serial mediation analyses were also performed using SPSS version 25.0. The analysis revealed that exposure to oral health short-form videos had a positive direct effect on both oral health knowledge and the reduction of optimistic bias among Chinese college students. Furthermore, a significant serial mediation effect of oral health knowledge and oral health attitude was identified. The findings underscore the substantial applicability and explanatory power of the extended KAP theory model in understanding engagement in oral health prevention.

Oral health status and factors associated with oral health of primary school children in Gulu district, northern Uganda

BackgroundGlobally, oral diseases remain a major public health problem. However, there is limited information about the oral health status and factors associated with oral disease among children in Uganda. The aim of this study was to examine the oral health status and factors associated with oral health of primary school children in urban and rural areas of the Gulu district of northern Uganda.MethodsA comparative cross-sectional study was conducted among 356 school children aged 11–13 years attending six schools located in urban and rural areas. The children received a clinical oral examination and participated in a questionnaire survey that collected information on sociodemographic and oral health knowledge, attitude, and practices. All data were entered and analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 26.0. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp statistical software. Logistic regression analyses examined factors associated with dental caries and gingival bleeding.ResultsOf the 356 children (11–13 years) included, the mean age was 12.2 years, 140 (39.3%) were male and 176 (49.4%) were from urban areas. The proportion of school children with dental caries was 33.6% (n = 119), with the mean decayed, missing due to caries, and filled teeth (DMFT) index of 0.81 (25th percentile = 0; 75th percentile = 1.00). There was no significant difference in caries prevalence between rural and urban children (31.6% versus 35.6%, p = 0.33). Of the children involved in the study, 141(39.8%) had gum bleeding. The mean oral knowledge score was 2.85 ± 1.53 (range, 0–7), while the mean attitude, hygiene practice, frequency of sweets consumption, and oral health related impact scores were 4.25 ± 1.23 (range, 1–6), 5.40 ± 1.81 (range, 0–9), 25.66 ± 4.29 (range 9–54) and 2.1 ± 1.65 (range, 0–6), respectively. Using logistic regression analyses, as oral health knowledge score increased the odds of not having dental caries increased (aOR = 1.19, 95% CI 1.02–1.39).ConclusionThe prevalence of dental caries and gum bleeding of primary school children in Gulu district is high. Children lacked knowledge on causes of oral disease, and behaviour towards oral disease prevention. In addition, oral health knowledge scores were significantly associated with dental caries. Oral health education programs in schools should emphasise providing skills-based education.

Oral Health Literacy and Patient Education Practices Among Non-Dental Professionals in Chongqing, China: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND Preventing oral diseases is a critical aim in maintaining general health. Non-dental professionals (NDPs) should understand oral health-related knowledge to help patients maintain oral and general health. We investigated the oral health knowledge, behaviors, and attitudes of NDPs regarding patient education and intersectoral collaborations for oral health. MATERIAL AND METHODS For this cross-sectional study, a web-based questionnaire of 36 questions was designed to collect characteristics, oral health knowledge, behaviors, and attitudes of spreading oral health knowledge. A total of 406 NDPs, including 166 doctors and 240 nurses, at 3 randomly selected hospitals in Chongqing, China, were included. Data were collected electronically and statistically analyzed using the chi-square test. RESULTS Only 35.96% and 39.41% of respondents disagreed with "extraction can cause loosening of adjacent tooth" and "tooth loss is a natural part of aging", respectively. Of the respondents, 92.12% were aware of oral healthcare needs before pregnancy; 67.48% agreed with cleaning the gums before the eruption of children's teeth; only 57.14% and 56.16% knew the start time of dental cleaning for children and the relatively safe period of dental treatment for pregnant women, respectively; 73.40% of respondents were interested in oral health knowledge, and they mainly consulted dental professionals; 95.56% agreed with intersectoral collaborations for oral health; and 68.47% thought to conduct oral health education in the future. CONCLUSIONS NDPs knew about common oral health knowledge; however, the oral healthcare knowledge for special groups was insufficient. NDPs should improve their ability to educate the public on oral health and establish intersectoral collaborations.

Linear and non-linear associations of depressive symptoms with oral health knowledge, attitudes, and practices among rural older adults in China: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundDepression affects the oral health of older adults; however, little is known about its impact on oral health among rural older adults in developing countries, which warrants further research. Taking China as an example, there is a large population base of rural older adults suffering from depression, and many rural older people also have long-term oral health problems, which have seriously affected their quality of life in later life. Therefore, this study aimed to explore linear and non-linear associations of depressive symptoms with oral health knowledge, attitudes, and practices among rural older adults in China.MethodsFrom November 2020 to December 2020, 1,902 rural community-dwelling older people aged 60 years and older were investigated, via a cross-sectional survey. The general information, depressive status, oral health knowledge, attitudes, and practices of the participants were obtained through face-to-face structured questionnaires. Among them, the Zung Depression Self-Rating Scale was used to investigate the depressive symptoms of the participants in this survey. The generalized linear model and classification and regression tree model were used, separately.ResultsBased on linear analysis results, we found that minimal to mild depressive symptoms [regression coefficient (β) = -0.345; 95% confidence interval (CI): -0.582 to -0.109, P = 0.004] and depressive symptoms (β = -1.064; 95% CI: -1.982 to -0.146, P = 0.023) were significantly correlated with oral health knowledge. A negative correlation was observed between minimal to mild depressive symptoms (β = -0.385; 95% CI: -0.600 to -0.170, P < 0.001) and oral health attitudes. In addition, while both minimal to mild depressive symptoms (β = 0.018; 95% CI: -0.312 to 0.347, P = 0.916) and depressive symptoms (β = 0.604; 95% CI: -0.675 to 1.883, P = 0.355) were associated with oral health practices. Furthermore, the non-linear analysis showed a combined effect of depressive symptoms on oral health attitudes, indicating that older people of a younger age, not living alone, and not suffering from depressive symptoms are more likely to report better oral health attitudes.ConclusionBoth the linear and non-linear analyses in our study showed that depressive symptoms are significantly correlated with the poor oral health attitudes of older adults in rural communities. Furthermore, depressive symptoms were associated with oral health knowledge in the linear analysis. However, no statistically significant difference was found between depressive symptoms and oral health practices in either analysis. This research deepens our knowledge and understanding of relevant evidence in the mental and oral health of people in later life. In addition, analyzing the factors that affect the oral health of older people from the perspective of their depressive status provides new thinking directions and scientific references for improving the oral health of older adults in practical life.

The current status and influencing factors of oral frailty in elderly maintenance hemodialysis patients based on the Andersen Oral Health Outcome Model

ObjectivesTo analyse the elements that influence oral frailty in elderly maintenance hemodialysis patients and to comprehend the present state of this condition.MethodsA survey of 325 elderly maintenance hemodialysis patients from three hospitals in Huzhou City was conducted using a general information questionnaire, the Oral Health Assessment Tool, the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Oral Health Questionnaire, the Social Frailty, the Frail Scale, and the Oral Frailty Index.ResultsIn elderly maintenance hemodialysis patients, the prevalence of oral frailty was 45.2%. Factors influencing it include the Oral Health Knowledge Score (OR = 0.84, 95% CI 0.72–0.98), Oral Health Behavior Score (OR = 0.95, 95% CI 0.92–0.98), insufficient dialysis (OR = 0.30, 95% CI 0.14–0.63), social frailty (OR = 3.72, 95% CI 1.57–8.83), physical frailty (OR = 3.12, 95% CI 1.55–6.30), number of missing teeth (OR = 1.09, 95% CI 1.03–1.15), swallowing abnormalities (OR = 2.84, 95% CI 1.26–6.38), and oral health scores (OR = 1.34, 95% CI 1.14–1.57) (P < 0.05).ConclusionPatients on elderly maintenance hemodialysis are more susceptible to oral frailty. Nursing staff should develop scientifically sound, effective, and targeted oral management strategies for these patients.

Oral health literacy, knowledge, attitude, and oral health practices among college students at Jenderal Soedirman University

Background: Oral health literacy (OHL) has an important role as a medium for health promotion and efforts to prevent oral diseases through oral health behavior changes. Purpose: This study aims to determine OHL and its correlation with oral health knowledge, attitude, and oral health practice among college students. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 583 students of Jenderal Soedirman University in 2020, as the students come from different provinces in Indonesia. The Indonesian Oral Health Literacy Questionnaire was used to assess OHL. A self-designed questionnaire was used to assess oral health knowledge, attitude, and oral health practice. Results: Most students had good OHL, knowledge, and attitude toward oral health (90.7%, 84.6%, and 90.5% respectively). A Pearson correlation test showed a correlation between OHL and oral health knowledge (p = 0.044) and attitude (p = &lt; 0.001). The Fisher exact tests showed a correlation between OHL and snacking frequency, tooth-brushing frequency, tooth-brushing time, and toothbrush changing time. The better the OHL, the better the knowledge and attitude. There was no correlation between OHL and sweet food eating frequency, the use of cleansing aids, dentist visit frequency, and the first action taken when experiencing toothache. Conclusion: OHL has a correlation with oral health knowledge and attitude. However, OHL is only related to some oral health practice indicators. The results of this study are expected to be taken into consideration when formulating strategies to improve oral health within the university.

Dental education in nursing schools: A pan-Canadian study

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to gather data on Canadian nursing programs regarding oral health curriculum and attitudes towards oral health curriculum to evaluate the level of oral health education in nursing programs and provide a reference for understanding dental and oral health in the nursing field. MethodsData to inform models for oral health curriculum in nursing were collected through an online survey using a secured google form. The web-based questionnaire examined main aspects of dental and oral health in nursing educational institutions. Eligibility criteria for this study included faculty members of an accredited nursing program in Canada. ResultsOf the 76 institutions approached, a total of 47 nursing faculty members from 35 nursing programs responded to the online survey. The vast majority (85.1 %) of the participants stated they believe oral health should be taught within nursing programs. Relating to the current curriculum, 70.2 % of the respondents stated their institution currently teaches anatomy relating to the oral cavity, but only 38.3 % reported their institution implemented oral diseases and pathology into the curriculum. Moreover, 48.9 % of the participants noted that dental screening was not covered in the nursing curriculum; 27.7 % of the respondents stated that their institution implemented education regarding gum disease, 25.5 % noted implementing education regarding oral cancer and oral lesions screening. Overall, 80.9 % of the participants noted that future nurses should be educated about oral cancer and disease prevention. However, in order to implement dental and oral health curriculums, participants noted certain needs such as time to implement curriculum (87.2 %) and more knowledge about the topic (83 %). ConclusionsThere is a current lack of content regarding dental and oral health in the curriculum of nursing programs throughout Canada. Due to this deficiency, many nursing graduates lack general knowledge about various aspects of dental and oral health.

Evaluation of knowledge, attitude and practices of oral health and hygiene among the future health care providers

Evaluation of knowledge, attitude and practices of oral health and hygiene among the future health care providers

Increasing Oral Health Team's Knowledge, Attitudes, and Intention to Recommend the HPV Vaccine.

This study aims to assess the impact of an educational intervention on the knowledge, attitudes, and intentions of oral health providers regarding the recommendation of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. A qualitative evaluation was conducted in 2021 with dental professionals who participated in a training program focused on HPV vaccination. Saturation was reached at 12. Results showed increased knowledge and awareness of the link between HPV infection and oropharyngeal cancers among participants. Intention to recommend was universally endorsed. The use of role-play with youth actors was highly regarded as an effective method for improving communication skills and confidence in recommending the vaccine. These findings emphasize the importance of targeted interventions to enhance oral health professional education and the intention to recommend HPV vaccine.

Effectiveness of immersive technologies in oral health promotion and education: A systematic review

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness of immersive technologies in oral health promotion and education. MethodsAn extensive literature review was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) method. This study was systematically performed in six electronic databases (PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, Cochrane, Scopus, and EBSCO). The risk of bias was assessed with the Cochrane tools using RoB 2.0 and ROBINS-I. ResultsPICOS criteria were formulated for study inclusion. The bibliographical search identified 10,074 articles, which were filtered subsequently. Finally, the most pertinent nine articles were included and scrutinized for data synthesis and analysis. This includes five randomized controlled trials and four non-randomized controlled trials in different countries that focused on children (33.3%), adolescents (11.1%), and adults (55.6%). The interventions used virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) to promote knowledge and attitudes towards oral care, improve toothbrushing performance, and smoking cessation, and reduce anxiety levels in oral health education. ConclusionThis systematic review demonstrates that immersive technologies, including VR and AR, significantly enhance oral health knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy, leading to improved health outcomes. Clinical significanceImmersive technologies such as VR and AR have the potential to provide innovative and effective methods for enhancing oral health promotion and education, while promoting positive health behaviours, which are crucial for improving overall oral health outcomes.

Oral health knowledge, attitudes, and practices of people living with mental illness: a mixed-methods systematic review

People living with mental illness experience poorer oral health outcomes compared to the general population, yet little is known about their oral health knowledge, attitudes, and practices. The aim of this mixed-methods systematic review was to synthesise evidence regarding oral health knowledge, attitudes, and practices of people living with mental illness to inform preventative strategies and interventions. Database searches were conducted in PubMed, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, ProQuest, and Scopus with no limitations placed on the year of study. All studies available in the English language, that explored the oral health knowledge, attitudes, and/or practices of people with a mental illness were included. Articles were excluded if they primarily pertained to intellectual disability, behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia, drug and alcohol or substance use, or eating disorders. A thematic synthesis was undertaken of 36 studies (26 high-moderate quality), resulting in 3 themes and 9 sub-themes. Study participants ranged from n = 7 to n = 1095 and aged between 15–83 years with most having a diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizoaffective, or bipolar affective disorder. People diagnosed with a mental illness were found to have limited oral health knowledge, particularly regarding the effects of psychotropic medication. Various barriers to oral health care were identified, including high dental costs, the negative impact of mental illness, dental fears, lack of priority, and poor communication with dental and health care providers. Study participants often displayed a reduced frequency of tooth brushing and dental visits. The findings highlight the potential for mental health care providers, oral health and dental professionals, mental health consumers, and carers to work together more closely to improve oral health outcomes for people with mental illness. The systematic review protocol is registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO), (registration ID CRD42022352122).

Effectiveness of Motivational Interviewing and cross platform messaging application in improving oral health knowledge, attitude and behaviours among pregnant women- A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Body goes through significant hormonal and physiological changes during pregnancy, which could be linked to changes in oral health. Many women are unaware of the negative consequences of poor dental health during and after pregnancy, both for themselves and their children. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the effectiveness of Motivational Interviewing (MI) and cross platform messaging application (WhatsApp messenger) for oral health education on the oral health knowledge, attitude and behaviours among pregnant women attending ante natal care. A randomized controlled trial was conducted among 84 pregnant women. Simple random sampling was employed to select participants after oral examination. Participants were randomly allocated to two groups (Group 1: Cross-platform messaging application [WhatsApp]; Group 2: MI) using a lottery method. Pregnant women aged 18 years and older, gestational age between 8 and 30 weeks were included. A face-to-face interview and oral examination were conducted to assess baseline knowledge and oral hygiene status. A follow-up examination was conducted after one month of intervention. Inferential statistics, including the chi-square test and independent t-test, were used to compare variables between the two groups. The mean knowledge score at baseline was comparable between Group 1 (WhatsApp) and Group 2 (MI). However, post-intervention, Group 2 showed a significantly higher mean knowledge score compared to Group 1. Post-intervention, Group 2 exhibited a significantly better oral hygiene status compared to Group 1. Significant improvements in oral health behaviours were observed in Group 2 compared to Group 1 (p < 0.001). The findings suggested that while both interventions were effective, MI showed superior results in improving knowledge, oral hygiene status, and oral health behaviours. The personalized and client-centred approach of MI enables participants to explore and resolve ambivalence, promoting a deeper understanding of the importance of oral health during pregnancy. Registration: CTRI ( CTRI/2021/09/036407, 10/09/2021).

Oral Health Care Among Women in Perimenopause or Menopause: An Integrative Review.

Women in menopause are at a higher risk of developing oral health problems, affecting their overall quality of life. Several studies have identified the role of health care providers in addressing women's oral health needs across various phases of their lives, yet a review in the area of perimenopause and menopause has not been undertaken. Therefore, the aim of this review was to explore current evidence regarding the oral health knowledge, attitudes, and practices of women in perimenopause or menopause and their health care providers. Additionally, guidelines and recommendations to inform strategies for oral health promotion are included. A systematic search was carried out across 5 databases. Inclusion criteria included articles published in English that examined at least one study outcome: oral health knowledge, attitudes, and practices of either women in perimenopause or menopause or of health care providers or guidelines around oral health care. Qualitative, quantitative, mixed-methods, and experimental studies with survey components were included with no restrictions on publication period, quality, or setting. A total of 12 articles met the inclusion criteria, with a majority being of poor quality and mostly from low-income and middle-income countries. Overall findings indicated that there was a lack of knowledge and limited practices in maintaining oral hygiene and visiting the dentist among women in perimenopause or menopause. Health care providers exhibited poor attitudes in advising the importance of periodic dental check-ups and informing oral health changes during this period. There were also insufficient guidelines to adopt care for women and guide health care providers in their practice. Women in perimenopause or menopause have limited oral health knowledge and unmet oral health needs. Appropriate guidelines and supportive strategies are required to assist health care providers in providing comprehensive care and encouragement to women in perimenopause or menopause to improve their oral health.

Oral health-related knowledge, attitude and practices among nurses: a hospital-based questionnaire survey from a tertiary healthcare setting in Faridabad, India

BackgroundNurses play an integral part in the comprehensive delivery of healthcare services and contribute significantly to the success of public health initiatives. The knowledge, attitude and practices of nurses in...