Oral Health Care Knowledge Research Articles

Knowledge and Experiences of Oral Health Care and Periodontitis of Caregivers of Older Adults With Cognitive Impairment.

There is limited evidence on knowledge of related health among healthcare personnel who care for older adults. The objective of this study was to investigate the knowledge and experience of oral health care among family members and medical staff responsible for older adults with varying degrees of cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease. This qualitative study explored the experiences and knowledge of 30 family members and medical staff through in-depth, semi-structured interviews. The interviews were recorded using both audio and video formats: digital platforms were used for immediate family members, while formal caregivers were interviewed in person. Researchers transcribed and analysed the recordings, categorising the answers to identify emerging topics until reaching saturation. The core emerging themes among the direct family members were: (1) Lack of knowledge about oral health; (2) Oral hygiene role for the patients; (3) Consequences of a poor oral care; and (4) Recommendations for a better oral health care. For the formal caregivers the emerging themes were: (1) Lack of knowledge and experiences about oral health; (2) Deficient oral hygiene of residents; (3) Impact on quality of life; and (4) Suggestions for improving oral health. Despite recognising the significance of oral health, direct family members and formal caregivers of older adults with cognitive impairment or dementia still need additional tools to effectively carry out necessary hygiene techniques and care.

New Age Parenting and Its Impact on Child’s Oral Health: Cross-sectional Questionnaire Study

Abstract Background: With increased globalization, East culture is meeting West culture and parenting style has been completely changed. Children depend significantly on their parents for provision, instruction, and supervision of crucial preventive oral hygiene habits. The education level and awareness of parents regarding preventive oral health measures play a pivotal role in this aspect. Therefore, it becomes imperative to evaluate and educate parents about proper oral hygiene care for their children, ultimately contributing to the overall well-being of the child. Aim: The aim of this study was to assess an impact of new age parenting on oral health of their children. Methodology: A cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted among 204 parents of children aged 5–10 years, consisting of 27-item questionnaires containing four domains of demographic data, knowledge, attitude, and practice, which was distributed among the participants. A descriptive analysis was done using IBM SPSS software (version 22.0 Chicago, IL, USA). Results: It was surprising to note that 32.84% of parents were unaware about the specialist dentist is available for children. About 65.69% of parents had low level of knowledge regarding oral health of their children. The correlation among knowledge, attitude, and practice was determined to be highly statistically significant (P = 0.0001). Conclusion: Our study concluded that knowledge, attitude, and practice of oral health care of children are low among new age parents and there is a need to educate these parents regarding the same.

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.

Implementation of the Expert Nursing Standard: Caregivers' Oral Health Knowledge.

The promotion of oral health in nursing care is essential for preventing oral diseases and maintaining health in elderly vulnerable populations. There is a need for standardized guidelines and education. The aim of this study was to collect data on the attitudes and hopes of caregivers regarding the implementation of the German Expert Nursing Standard "Promotion of Oral Health in Nursing" (GENS-POHN) and to evaluate their oral healthcare knowledge before implementation. A cross-sectional study was conducted in five different care settings in Germany. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on the attitudes and hopes of nursing assistants regarding the GENS-POHN. Oral healthcare knowledge was evaluated before implementation. Most participants had a positive attitude towards the GENS-POHN and hoped that its implementation would lead to greater safety and competence in daily oral healthcare tasks. Few participants currently use screening or assessment instruments for oral care. There is a need for further education and training, as well as the development and implementation of standardized guidelines and tools for screening and assessment, in oral care. The GENS-POHN as an expert standard could be made accessible to an international audience by translating it into other respective national languages, thereby enhancing its usability for a wider range of users.

Virtual reality-based simulation learning on geriatric oral health care for nursing students: a pilot study

BackgroundThere is a great need for training and education in the nursing curriculum to improve nurses’ knowledge and skills to provide oral health care.MethodsA pilot study was conducted to evaluate the use of a virtual reality (VR)-based Oral Health Care Learning System to train geriatric oral health care among nursing students. Fifty undergraduate nursing students were randomly assigned to experimental (n = 25) and control (n = 25) groups. The experimental group received the VR-based simulation training on geriatric oral health care and the training was implemented twice at two weeks apart from March to November 2021. The control group did not receive the training intervention. Knowledge, attitude, and self-efficacy of geriatric oral health care as well as the intention to assist oral health care for older adults were assessed at the beginning, second, and fourth weeks. Generalized estimating equations were used to analyze the effectiveness of the VR-based simulation training.ResultsAfter the first round of training, students in the experimental group had significantly greater improvements in knowledge and self-efficacy of geriatric oral health care than in the control group. After the second round of training, students in the experimental group had significantly greater improvements in knowledge, attitude, and self-efficacy of geriatric oral health care as well as the intention to assist oral health care for older adult than in the control group.ConclusionsThe VR-based simulation training was effective to improve undergraduate nursing students’ knowledge, attitudes and self-efficacy of geriatric oral health as well as the intention to assist oral health care for older adults. The VR-based simulation learning system is an effective tool to provide practice experiences to build confidence and skills and to bridge the gap of understudied geriatric oral health content in entry-level nursing curricula.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05248542; registration date 21/02/2022).

Knowledge And Awareness Towards Infant Oral Health Among Medical And Nursing Undergraduates In Salem – A Quesstionaire Study

Aim This study was intended to evaluate the knowledge and awareness towards infant oral health care among medical and nursing undergraduates in Salem , Tamil Nadu. Material And Methods A study was conducted among medical and nursing undergraduates in Salem. A self administered 22 questionnaire regarding knowledge and awareness towards infant oral health care was administered among medical and nursing undergraduate students in Salem. In this regard, a preliminary study with a convenience sample of 201 medical and 199 nursing students was conducted so as to assess the knowledge of infant oral health care among graduating medical and nursing students in Salem, Tamil Nadu. Results In this study the nursing students had better knowledge and awareness of infant oral health care as compared to medical students. Conclusion As the nurses along with the medical professionals interact quite frequently with the parents and children at very young age they might be beneficial in imparting oral health education, there by reducing the burden of dental problems in growing children. Key Words Infant oral health care ,medical graduates, nursing graduates ,dental problems, oral habits

Intervention to promote preventive dental care for older Korean-American Medi-Cal enrollees in Los Angeles

BackgroundIn California, preventive dental care is covered by Medi-Cal (California’s Medicaid program). However, many beneficiaries do not use their dental benefits. Given that a lack of knowledge about oral health and insurance coverage contributes to this underutilization, promoting the use of dental benefits among eligible individuals via an educational program is imperative. Responding to the particular needs of older immigrants with limited English proficiency, we developed a digital oral health intervention for older Korean-American Medi-Cal enrollees in Los Angeles. This educational intervention is designed to be delivered via computers and the Internet. It consists of a 15-min self-running PowerPoint presentation narrated in Korean with links to additional information on the Internet. The slides contain information about the basic etiology of oral diseases, oral hygiene, common myths about oral health and dental care, Medi-Cal coverage of preventive dental care, and how to find a dental clinic.MethodsWe pilot tested the intervention with 12 participants to examine its feasibility and acceptability. We also obtained participants’ qualitative feedback about the intervention.ResultsA post-intervention quantitative assessment yielded high participant satisfaction and improved oral health and dental care knowledge. Participant responses to the intervention yielded four themes: (1) content and structure, (2) linguistic and cultural aspects, (3) delivery mode, and (4) additional concerns and suggestions.ConclusionsOur findings confirm the intervention’s feasibility and acceptability and suggest further refinement.

Perception of oral health professionals towards oral health care in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a cross-sectional questionnaire study

Background: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is one of the most common psychiatric disorders that affects both children and adults and is characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Around 9% of worlds’ child population and 20% of India’s is affected by ADHD. A child with ADHD can often have neglected or poor oral hygiene. Attending to the dental treatment of such children can be a challenging task for dentists. The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices of oral health care towards children with ADHD among oral health professionals. Methods: The study was carried out among 151 oral health professionals using a validated questionnaire. The results were tabulated in an excel sheet and analysed using SPSS software version 22.0. Results: It was found that among the participants, 71.52% had knowledge scores below the mean knowledge score, while 74.83% had attitude scores below the mean and likewise, 53.64% had practice scores below the mean practice scores. A positive correlation was found between knowledge, attitude, and practice by Karl Pearson’s correlation coefficient with a highly statistically significant p value of 0.0001 (p<0.05). This signified low knowledge correlated with less positive attitude leading to poor practices. Conclusions: Majority of the participating professionals perceive that their training did not prepare them well to treat ADHD affected children. However, practice levels were better among those with more years of experience.

Analysis of the Influence of Systematic Oral Care on the Recognition Rate of Oral Health Care Knowledge in Patients with Periodontal Disease

Analysis of the Influence of Systematic Oral Care on the Recognition Rate of Oral Health Care Knowledge in Patients with Periodontal Disease

Autism Spectrum Disorder and Oral Healthcare: A Qualitative Study of Parents’ Perspectives in Padang City, Indonesia

Background: Children with autism spectrum disorder, particularly those with mental and behavioral impairments, are affected regarding their oral health and impact their quality of life. Furthermore, perceptions of parents are also important in assessing the planning appropriate oral healthcare. The purpose of this study was to explore parent’s perspectives regarding barriers oral healthcare, tooth brushing behavior and the recommendation strategies to improve oral health status among individual with ASD in Padang city, Indonesia.Method: A purposive sample of six parents in public autism care centre in Padang city participated in focus groups addressing barriers maintain oral healthcare. Focus groups were transcribed and coded using qualitative content analysis. Primary themes included barriers oral healthcare, toothbrushing behavior and recommendations to improve oral healthcare. Content analysis was performed using NVivo software.Result: Parents noted barriers conducted oral hygiene such as drooling, tongue thrust and hard to focus relatively. Mothers noted general improvements in awareness of control diet and have used several media to help their children understand how to brush their teeth properly. Knowledge gaps included until when parents should help children brush their teeth and special oral healthcare. They expect that in the future, the government more attention to oral health of individuals with special needs. The role of the general dentist is crucial, and they expect the dentist to be more patient when caring with patients with special needs.Conclusion: Our findings indicate a need for comprehensive educational intervention and improved communication from policy maker, dentist, public health and prevention leaders in oral health care and dental hygienists to increase oral healthcare knowledge and practice of parents with ASD to better quality of life

Oral Health Care and Multidisciplinary Knowledge at the Volunteering Work in Peru: an Experience Report.

People in lower-income societies are facing significant challenges in accessing primary oral health care during their entire lives. Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) have facilitated the provision of dental services by outreach program volunteers to low-and middle-income countries. Volunteering programs worldwide create a positive new experience between the students and professionals who are able, available, and with the initiative to help others, their objective primarily is to give some relief to those involved in the approximately more than 4 billion people worldwide who have a small or no access to basic dental care. Peru is one of the places in Latin America that needs attention when it comes to oral health care. The highest level of caries disease was biostatistically found in Cuzco. A lack of information regarding oral hygiene could explain this high prevalence of caries in Peru, concluding that the cities around the country of Peru need volunteering intervention. This study is classified as an experience report and a description of a dental volunteer program event. The proscript author has experienced an entire volunteering work in dentistry as an academic dental medicine student. All the activities developed were localized in the city of Cusco in the center of public health named Centro de Salud Clas Wanchaq, promoting oral health actions daily and being able to put into practice the techniques learned before in Brazil. Conclusively, in terms that express the ethical considerations in community oral health, it is necessary to discuss an overview of community oral health from an ethical perspective, including the importance of equity, human rights, and social justice in providing oral health care.

Effectiveness of Animated Video Media in Enhancing Oral Health Knowledge Among Children with Intellectual Disabilities: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Background: Children with intellectual disabilities often face lower oral healthcare knowledge levels than their typically developing peers. This disparity arises from intellectual limitations and adaptive functioning challenges. Effective educational tools are crucial to improving the oral health knowledge of children with intellectual disabilities, and one such tool is animated video media.
 Method: This study employed a quasi-experimental design, with a purposive sample of 32 respondents. The independent variable was the delivery of oral health education through animated video media, while the dependent variable was the knowledge of oral health maintenance. Data were collected using a questionnaire. Statistical analysis involved the Wilcoxon signed rank test and the Mann-Whitney test.
 Result: Prior to the educational intervention using animated video media, the average knowledge score regarding oral health maintenance was 4.06. Following the intervention, the average score significantly increased to 9.62. Additionally, the distribution of the difference between the treatment and control groups in terms of oral health knowledge showed a mean difference of 24.25 compared to 8.75. Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference between the treatment and control groups (P=0.000).
 Conclusion: This study demonstrates the effectiveness of animated video media in significantly improving oral health knowledge among children with intellectual disabilities. The findings underscore the potential of multimedia educational tools to bridge knowledge gaps and enhance oral health outcomes in this vulnerable population.

Knowledge and Behavior of Oral Health Care among Dental Students in Kurdistan Region of Iraq – A Questionnaire-Based Study

Knowledge and Behavior of Oral Health Care among Dental Students in Kurdistan Region of Iraq – A Questionnaire-Based Study

Oral Health Literacy Levels of Nursing Professionals and Effectiveness of Integrating Oral Health Training into Nursing Curricula: A Systematic Review

This systematic review assessed the evidence for the oral health literacy levels (i.e., knowledge, attitudes, barriers, oral care and practices, and trainings and resources) of nursing professionals and the effectiveness of integrating oral health training into nursing training. Four electronic databases were searched; however, for relevance, only evidence published between 2013 and 2023 was considered. Overall, 70 studies that focused on five key themes, namely, (i) knowledge of oral healthcare among nurses; (ii) attitudes of nurses towards oral healthcare; (iii) barriers to oral healthcare promotion; (iv) oral care and practices; and (v) trainings and resources to promote oral healthcare, were retrieved. Nurses were found to have a lack of or suboptimal of knowledge regarding oral healthcare. Moreover, their attitudes and practices related to the provision of oral healthcare varied substantially. Key barriers that impeded oral healthcare promotion included a lack of knowledge, awareness, education, skills, and training. Integrating oral health training was considered effective for improving oral health literacy and nurses emphasized the inclusion of such training into their curricula for improving oral healthcare. In summary, nurses have an important role to play in promoting oral health. Furthermore, integration of oral health training into nursing curricula could be a feasible approach to improve the oral health literacy of nurses and reduce the burden of oral disease.

Oral health-care practices and dental assistance management strategies for people with autism spectrum disorder: An integrative literature review.

Autism spectrum disorder requires a careful approach from professionals and a favorable clinical environment for dental care and assistance. This article aims To perform a literature review about oral health among people with autism spectrum disorder and dental management strategies for this group. An integrative literature review was carried out in three databases, associating the descriptors: (autism or autism spectrum disorder) with (oral health or oral diseases) and (dental care or dental services). After identification and screening steps, 32 articles were included in the study. The most prevalent subjects were oral health conditions, parents’ understanding and practical attitudes about oral health, treatment and management strategies, and the use of technology. The principal barriers to dental care were the scarcity of specialized professionals, unpreparedness in the referral system, poor accessibility of the clinics, and lack of specific care protocols. The world literature on the subject is scarce, and there is still a need for investment and scientific production due to the incidence of autism in the world population and the maintenance of difficulties and barriers in offering quality health care to this group.

Assessing the Student Nurses' Knowledge of Oral Health Care.

Oral health is crucial for the overall well-being and quality of life, and nurses play a significant role in promoting it. This study assessed the oral health knowledge of fourth-grade nursing degree students. Seventy-two students completed a questionnaire covering sociodemographic variables, oral health-related factors, knowledge about oral health, and perceptions of its importance and learning experiences. The results showed that 83.3% of students attended regular dental check-ups for preventive purposes, and 55.6% had visited a dentist during the last year. Most of the students reported experiencing cavities (66.7%) and undergoing orthodontic treatment (54.2%). The average knowledge score in oral health was 6.4 out of 10, and students recognized the importance of oral health in the nursing role. However, their knowledge acquired during their nursing degree scored relatively low, being 2.5 out of 5. Notably, students who valued problem-based learning achieved higher knowledge scores (p < 0.05). Overall, fourth-grade nursing students demonstrated a moderate level of oral health knowledge. Improving oral health education within nursing curricula, particularly through problem-based learning, is essential to enhance their preparedness in addressing oral health issues effectively. This study was not registered.

The effectiveness of motivational interviewing on the oral health of leukemic children and oral health care knowledge, attitude and practice of their mothers: a hospital-based intervention

BackgroundSome studies suggest a higher effectiveness of motivational interviewing compared to common oral health instruction in healthy individuals. As regards to higher prevalence of dental diseases like early childhood caries, oral mucositis, and gingivitis are reported for leukemic children, the present study aims to compare the effectiveness of educating mothers through MI with the common instruction (CI) for the oral health of children with leukemia under six years old.MethodThis quasi-experimental study was designed in Tehran University of Medical Sciences, School of Dentistry and conducted on 61 mothers with leukemic children under age six hospitalized in Mahak Hospital and Rehabilitation Complex which is a Pediatric Cancer Research and Hospital Center, in 2021. Mother and child pairs were allocated to MI or CI (using pamphlets) groups. Data was collected using a questionnaire of mothers’ knowledge, attitude, motivation, and practice concerning oral health care in leukemic children. The children underwent clinical examination to assess plaque index before and three months after the intervention. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 25 (IBM, Armonk, NY, USA) by ANCOVA test.ResultsThe preschoolers mean ages were 4.23 ± 1.41 and 4.32 ± 1.33 (ranged from 2 to 6 years old) in the MI and CI group, respectively. There were 16 girls (53.3%) and 14 boys (46.7%) in the MI group, and 15 girls (48.4%) and 16 boys (51.6%) in the CI group. Significant differences were observed in the amount of plaque index between the MI group and the CI group (0.20 ± 0.04, p-value < 0.001). A significant increase was observed in the mean of changes in scores of knowledge, attitude, motivation, mother’s practice concerning child’s oral health, mother’s practice concerning personal oral health in the MI group (p-value < 0.001).ConclusionsConsidering that instruction using MI showed to be effective in improving oral health adherence in mothers and reducing plaque in children with Leukemia, it may be recommended as a promising method to promote the oral health of such susceptible children in places that they are constantly present for treatment.Trial registrationThe study was registered in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT) on 11.03.2021 (code: IRCT20131102015238N5).

The Effect of Scrapbook Media on Knowledge of Dental and Oral Health Care in Grade 3 Students at SD Negeri 110 Palembang

Dental health education is an effort to improve dental and oral health from an early age, using modified scrapbook media. The aim of the study was to analyze the effect of scrapbook media on children's skill knowledge. This research method uses a quasi- experiment (pseudo-experiment) with pre-test and post-test treatment. Sampling by stratified random sampling method consisting of 30 respondents at SDN 110 Palembang. The independent variable is the scrapbook media. The dependent variable is knowledge about oral health. Data were analyzed using the Paired t-test of 9.9. Based on the analysis of the Paired t-test, a significance value of 9.9 was obtained. The results of the study concluded that scrapbook media influences the increase in dental and oral health knowledge in children. The conclusion is that there is an increase in knowledge of dental and oral hygiene.

Maternal disability and prenatal oral health experiences: Findings from Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System

BackgroundAlthough disability has associations with poor health and reduced access to health care services, limited research exists on the connection between disability, oral health, and oral health care use. Moreover, to the authors’ knowledge, no study has examined the association between disability and oral health around the time of pregnancy. This is an important gap in research, considering that both disability and oral health play a critical role in maternal and infant well-being. MethodsThe authors obtained cross-sectional data from 15 states from 2019 and 2020 from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (N = 20,189). The authors used multivariable logistic regression analyses to assess the relationship between cumulative disabilities and specific forms of disability (seeing, hearing, walking, remembering, self-care, and communicating) for 6 indicators of oral health experiences during pregnancy. ResultsWomen reporting multiple forms of disabilities around the time of pregnancy (especially ≥ 3 disabilities) reported lower levels of knowledge of appropriate oral health care during pregnancy, were less likely to undergo dental prophylaxis during pregnancy, were more likely to report needing care for dental health problems, and had more unmet oral health care needs than those without disabilities. ConclusionsMaternal disability is a risk factor for poorer oral health outcomes and oral health care use during pregnancy. Practical ImplicationsGiven the potential harms of poor oral health to maternal and infant well-being, the findings of this study suggest the need for increased health promotion efforts to foster improved oral health for pregnant women living with disabilities.

Assessment of Oral Health Knowledge of Pharmacists in Two Tertiary Hospitals in Enugu, Nigeria.

Oral health is defined as a state of being free of mouth and facial pain, oral infections and sores, and other diseases that limit an individual's capacity for biting, chewing, smiling, speaking, and psychosocial well-being. This study assessed the knowledge, barriers, and facilitators of oral health knowledge among Pharmacists in Enugu, Nigeria. This was a cross-sectional study of 163 pharmacists in two tertiary hospitals in Enugu, South East, Nigeria. Data on sociodemographic profiles, knowledge of oral health care, barriers, and facilitators of oral health knowledge was collected. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26 and P < 0.05 was considered significant. There were more female 96 (58.9%) than male pharmacists 67 (41.1%). Their mean age was 32.98 ± 8.33 years. The majority of respondents, 56 (34.4%) graduated between 2010 and 2019, and 44 (27%) had additional qualifications. Many of the pharmacists 88 (54%) believed that oral health is part of general health. Also, 107 (65.6%) of the respondents had a good knowledge of oral health while 56 (34.4%) had poor knowledge. There was a significant association between academic qualification (P = 0.04) and having good knowledge of oral health care among pharmacists with those with additional qualifications having better knowledge than the others. Poor creation of oral health awareness by dentists 106 (65.0%) was considered as the main barrier to having good oral health knowledge by the pharmacists. More than half of the pharmacists had good knowledge of oral health and academic qualification was associated with having a good knowledge of oral health care among pharmacists in the study population.