Oral Health Care Knowledge Research Articles

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Nurses towards Oral Care of Hospitalized Patients in Zimbabwe

Background: This study aimed to evaluate oral healthcare knowledge, attitudes, and management of admitted patients by Registered General Nurses (RGNs). It sought to appreciate the scope of training in the oral health management of patients using RGNs and the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of RGNs in managing oral and maxillofacial conditions in admitted patients.
 Method: This descriptive cross-sectional study used systematic random sampling to collect data using questionnaires at Parirenyatwa Hospital, Harare. One hundred and one RGNs participated in this study.
 Results: The overall knowledge level of RGNs regarding oral and maxillofacial management of admitted patients was average. In addition, their general attitude regarding the oral and maxillofacial management of admitted patients was good, but their overall practice was considered fair.
 Conclusion: These results show a disparity, with generally lower practices than self-perceived attitudes. Nurses should be equipped with a basic package of oral care for admitted patients through collaboration between oral health professionals and nursing professionals in research, training, and service.

Mentoring Mothers and Preschool Children in Efforts to Maintain Dental and Oral Health

Preschool children are a vulnerable group to dental health problems. Education in the preschool age period is essential because children are very easy to learn and direct so children will get used to doing dental health care independently, to get good results this program involves parents. The purpose of this program is to assist mothers and preschool children to maintain dental and oral health. The targets of this activity are preschool students and Ruhul Jihad Kindergarten students in Ciganjur, South Jakarta. The method of implementing the action is conducting dental health education for preschool children and mothers, dental edu visits, and brushing teeth together. The results of the activity showed an increase in knowledge of oral and dental health care for mothers and preschool children, an increase in brushing skills correctly in preschool children, as well as coordinated responses, enthusiasm, and interest in preschool children visiting the dental clinic. The conclusion shows that mentoring activities for mothers and preschool children to maintain dental and oral health are carried out well and provide benefits to the target.

A Study of Oral Health Care Behaviors of Primary-6 Students (P6): Ban Bo Koo School, Tha Luang Subdistrict, Tha Luang District, Lopburi Province

The objectives of this study were as follows to study oral health care behaviors of Primary-6 students, Ban Bo Koo School, Tha Luang Subdistrict, Tha Luang District, Lopburi Province. The samples used in this study were Primary-6 students, Ban Bo Koo School, Tha Luang Subdistrict, Tha Luang District, Lop Buri Province, in the first semester of the academic year 2022, total of 1 classroom 25 people. The instrument used in the questionnaire on oral cleaning behavior of Primary-6 students, Ban Bo Koo School, Tha Luang District, Lopburi Province, the statistics used for data analysis were average. The results of the study found that 1. A study of oral health care behavior of Primary-6 students, Ban Bo Koo School, Tha Luang Subdistrict, Tha Luang District, Lopburi Province by using a questionnaire on oral cleaning behavior. It involves knowledge of oral and dental health care for children. By getting to know that human teeth have 2 sets, permanent teeth and milk teeth. In general childhood oral health, there are 20 milk teeth, and 32 permanent teeth. If children have gingivitis, they tend to have severe bad breath. In addition, eating starchy foods, and sugars, can lead to obesity and cause tooth decay. 2. Attitudes about viewing and oral health among Primary-6 students, with which they have a better understanding of dental practice. For example, they try to brush their teeth properly to remove food particles and plaque from between their teeth. They recognize that these are the causes of tooth decay and gingivitis, and good oral health can lead to good health. 3. The viewing behavior and oral health of Primary-6 students, most of them behave at a good level. Students have a good understanding of oral health care and mostly use fluoride toothpaste. Students have a place to brush their teeth after lunch within the school grounds.

경기지역 일부 유아 대상 가정 연계 이닦기 교육의 효과

Background/Objectives: This study evaluated the effect of home-connected toothbrushing education for young children living in a part of Gyeonggi Province. Methods: The program, comprising three steps, was repeated three times using the same educational theme. Step 1 involved visiting education with teaching tools by a dietician. Step 2 involved repeated education by a preschool teacher. Step 3 involved home education with a worksheet by main caregivers. The effects before and after education were evaluated for 161 infants (female, 95; male, 66) aged 2-6 years. Frequencies were calculated and a paired t-test was conducted to identify changes in behavior before and after home-connected toothbrushing education. Results: In terms of gender, the main caregivers comprised 151 women (93.8%) and 10 men (6.2%). Of these, 150 (93.2%) were mothers, 10 were fathers (6,2%), and 1 was a grandmother (0.6%) in terms of relationship to the children. The average score of oral healthcare knowledge of the main caregivers was 1.81 out of 2. A total of 46.6% of the children were educated at home more than once a day, 18.6% two to three times per week, 16.1% four to five times per week, 14.9% six to seven times per week, and 3.7% less than once a week. The frequency of “brushing teeth after meals” increased from an average of 1.72 days per week before education to 4.08 days per week after education (p<.001). However, the frequency of “brushing teeth more than three times a day” did not change following the education. Conclusion/Implications: Home-connected toothbrushing education may be effective in improving children’s oral health.

Knowledge, awareness and practice of oral health care among diabetes mellitus patients in Chennai population

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a common chronic disease with an increasing prevalence, affecting general and oral health, with plethora of oral manifestations. There is a threefold increase in the predominance and severity of periodontitis in patients with diabetes, especially in those with poor metabolic control. Hence, this study aimed to explore the knowledge and awareness of oral health care among diabetic mellitus patients in Chennai population. The objective was to assess their attitudes and practices towards sustaining good oral health through proper oral hygiene and regular dental check-ups.Methods: A questionnaire-based study was conducted to determine the knowledge and awareness of oral health care among DM patients in Chennai at Health care centers from January to June 2022. The sample size included questionnaires from 500 patients. The questionnaire was prepared, first in English, and then, it was translated into local language i.e., Tamil to collect the data.Results: The chi-square test was used to see the significance of participant’s awareness of oral complications associated with diabetes. There was a strong statistical significance relationship with respect to oral health knowledge among different age groups (p<0.05).Conclusions: Diabetes mellitus may be regarded as one of the most dreaded and silent epidemic health problem in the immediate future, especially in the developing countries. Therefore, it is of paramount importance to know about the increased risk of oral diseases in diabetes mellitus.

Survey on Knowledge Toward Diabetic Periodontal Condition and Oral Health Among Medical Staff and Patients

The study was conducted to understand the cognitive status of medical staff and patients on the status of periodontal disease and oral health care in patients with diabetes, and to provide reference for the implementation and improvement of diabetes management and health education. Using the Diabetes Periodontal Status and Oral Health Knowledge Questionnaire, 108 doctors, 190 nurses, and 212 inpatients were investigated. This study demonstrated that, the total scores of doctors, nurses, and patients with diabetes periodontal status and oral health knowledge were (31.18 ± 5.14), (28.58 ± 4.09) and (18.67 ± 3.45) points, respectively. The results of regression analysis showed that education level, department, and related training experience (p < 0.05, p < 0.01) were the influencing factors of the diabetic periodontal status and oral health knowledge level of the medical staff, meanwhile the monthly income, department, and relevant training experience (p < 0.05, p < 0.01) were the factors influencing the diabetic periodontal status and oral health care knowledge level of the patients. In summary, the cognitive level of diabetic periodontal status and oral health care knowledge of the medical staff and patients’ needs to be improved. Medical staff should pay attention to the study of diabetic periodontal status and oral health care knowledge, further perform a good job in the relevant health education of patients, which is helpful to maintain good oral hygiene.

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Video-based Intervention on the Knowledge of Infant Oral Health among New Mothers.

Background and objectivesInfant oral health is the foundation upon which preventive dental health education must be built to enhance the conditions for a disease-free oral cavity. Majority of the mothers are ignorant about their oral health and also about the fact that their oral health status affects that of their babies. Educational videotapes have proved to be effective in educating mothers on various child health issues. So the objectives of this study were to educate the mothers about the need for infant oral health care, compare the level of mother's knowledge on infant oral health before and after the video presentation and assess the effectiveness of the presentation.MethodologyAn interactive educational video presentation containing evidence-based information about infant oral health care and prevention was developed. This presentation was based upon information provided by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) on anticipatory guidance. It includes the persuasive message on maternal oral health during preconception and pregnancy and its implication on birth outcomes, vertical transmission of Streptococcus mutans, infant oral health, the risk for early childhood caries (ECC), and increased caries experience on permanent teeth if primary teeth are affected. Emergency care for infant oral trauma, consequences of traumatic injuries to the primary dentition from an aspect of possible damage to the developing tooth, dietary habits, and oral hygiene behaviors. It also emphasizes the timing of the first dental visit and the periodicity of dental screenings. The survey was designed to compare the effectiveness of instructional videotaped persuasive messages by using pre- and post-questionnaires. Two hundred mothers of infants below the age of 12 months were included in the study. They were asked to fill out the questionnaires before and after the presentation on the same visit.ResultsThe results showed a highly significant improvement in knowledge (p< 0.05) as assessed by the proportion of correct responses following a single viewing of the AV-aid.ConclusionThe knowledge of new mothers on infant oral health care was inadequate, and there was an improvement in their knowledge of infant oral health care after the instructional video presentation. An instructional video presentation is an effective tool for improving the oral health knowledge of new mothers.SignificanceBy this study, we want to inculcate the habit of oral hygiene maintenance among the mothers, which indirectly affects the infant's oral health. Through this study, we educated the mothers regarding infant oral health care, which significantly improved their knowledge.How to cite this articleSingh R, Patil SS, K Madhu, et al. Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Video-based Intervention on the Knowledge of Infant Oral Health among New Mothers. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2022;15(3):280-286.

EVALUATION OF AWARENESS, KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE OF CLINICAL NURSES TOWARDS PRIMARY ORAL HEALTH CARE OF CHILDREN.

Background &amp; objectives: Most of the toddlers and early childhood children in developing and under developing countries do not visit dental clinics for oral examinations earlier than three years of age though they often visit primary health care providers for regular medical checkups. Health care providers like nurses are easily available and are in frequent contact with expecting mothers and children for routine check ups. This provides an opportunity to join in oral health promotion and care into health care. Nurses play a major as well as prominent role in providing health services, along with the general physicians. Yet, the nurses can be efficiently employed to promote oral health awareness among the community level. The oral health should have greater importance in the nurse for identification and diagnosis of dental and oral diseases. The aim of this study was to study the awareness, knowledge and attitude towards primary oral health care of children among clinical nurses. Methods: A total of 200 clinical nurses received a questionnaire that included demographic data, questions to assess the oral knowledge, oral awareness and attitude towards primary oral health care of the children. Data was collected, tabulated and statistically analysed. Results: The result showed that most nursing students (80%) are unaware about primary oral health care disease and the importance of primary teeth are also not known by both the private and government college nursing students. Interpretation &amp; conclusion: Primary health care nurses lack knowledge and awareness in oral and dental health care. Nurses have positive attitude and willingness to obtain more information for appropriate oral health care. Training and encouragement for the nurses helps to promote oral health and prevent dental diseases in children.

Knowledge of nursing graduates on oral health care for older people in the long-term care.

Oral health self-care deteriorates in older adults due to a decreasing level of cognition increasing disability and/or a reduction in manual dexterity. Older adults in hospital care or residential care therefore increasingly need assistance for oral health care. There is an increase in dentate patients entering residential care due to advances in dentistry. It is suggested therefore that nurses in aged care increasingly need advanced knowledge to care for their older dentate patients to prevent and minimize progression of oral diseases, given the impact of poor oral health on general health. The current study was conducted to investigate the oral health care knowledge of nursing graduates across Aotearoa New Zealand. A cross-sectional study was conducted among third year nursing graduates in 18 nursing institutes in New Zealand. Oral health care knowledge and oral-systemic connection knowledge, and predictors of oral health care knowledge were investigated. Total 148 students participated in the student's survey, making it 15% of 2020 graduates. The students' survey results suggested that nursing graduates have good basic oral health knowledge, however, their knowledge of the oral-systemic disease connection and the value of an examination of the oral cavity were poor. The oral health care knowledge of nursing students and their ability to care for older adults relies on oral health care education in their nursing programs. A revision of curricula to improve oral health education in nursing programs is strongly recommended.

Knowledge and Attitudes of Mental Health Professionals towards Oral Care of Patients in Zimbabwe

Objective: This study aimed to assess the oral healthcare knowledge, attitudes, and practices among mental health professionals in Zimbabwe. There are numerous dental conditions associated with mental health conditions. It is, therefore, necessary to assess if mental health professionals are prepared to adequately manage and refer such cases where indicated. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study using convenience sampling to collect data using an online questionnaire administered to mental health professionals from the ten provinces of Zimbabwe. The target sample size was 82. Responses to each of the items in the knowledge and attitudes section were graded on a scale of 0 to 3. Descriptive statistics were performed. Composite scores were computed for knowledge and attitudes with the highest possible score for knowledge being 27 and the highest possible score for attitudes being 12. Open-ended responses in the knowledge section were manually analyzed and used to supplement findings from the closed-ended sections. Results: There were 71 respondents. 60.6% were females, the average (mean) age was 38.78, and the highest reported (mode) working experience was one year. The overall composite score for knowledge was 14.37 out of 27 (53.2%) and the overall composite score for attitudes was 7.66 out of 12 (63.3%). The open-ended section addressing practices revealed that only 1.4% of the respondents had received formal oral healthcare-related training. The rest of the respondents indicated they had no training or did not answer this question. Most respondents are not confident in handling oral health complications and several do not know the appropriate referral pathway. There were suggestions for further training and an increased interdisciplinary approach where oral health professionals work alongside mental health professionals. Conclusion: While the knowledge and attitudes regarding oral care are average amongst Zimbabwean mental health professionals, the practices remain below ideal. There is a need for increased training and a multidisciplinary approach. The formulation of a manual for oral care of mental health patients in the Zimbabwean context is also recommended.

Community pharmacists' knowledge, attitude and practice of oral health care in Asir region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

To assess community pharmacists' knowledge, attitude and practice towards oral health care in Asir region, Saudi Arabia. A prospective cross-sectional study was carried out using a self-administered structured questionnaire, targeting 254 community pharmacies across the Asir region. The questionnaire consisted of four domains: demographics, knowledge, attitudes and practice related to oral health care. Statistical analysis was performed using Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.0. Of the 254 pharmacists, 202 respondents completed the survey, yielding a response rate of 79.5%. Almost two-thirds (66%) of the community pharmacists exhibited good knowledge, 65% possessed a positive attitude, and 55% perceived a good practice towards oral health care. Pharmacists have shown a good understanding on dental care (p<0.001) and oral conditions. Fifty-five per cent (n=119) of pharmacists preferred to have dental-based subjects in Pharmacy curriculum. Community Pharmacists possess overall good knowledge and attitude required for the provision of dental care counselling patients. They may participate in oral health development programmes to make a better practice.

Designing and validating a questionnaire on oral health care knowledge, attitude, and practice of dental staff

Objective: This study aimed to design a valid questionnaire to evaluate knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of Mashhad Dental school staff about oral health care and to assess the validity and reliability of this instrument. Methods: The "Dental Staff Awareness of Oral Health Care” (DSAOHC) was divided into three concepts; knowledge, attitude and practice. Ten experts of Mashhad Dental School contributed to design the questionnaire and assessed the face and content validity (I-CVI and S-CVI/AV) in two rounds. The necessity of each item was evaluated according to Lawshe’s Content Validity Ratio (CVR). Construct validity, internal consistency, and reliability were assessed using confirmatory factor analysis, homogeneity coefficients, and test-retest by distributing the instrument among 207 dental staff working in other dental schools and private clinics. &nbsp;&nbsp; Results: Based on the acceptable results of I-CVI, S-CVI/AV (&gt;0.7), and CVR (&gt; 0.62), the final version of DSAOHC was approved with 34 questions, including 10 questions about background information, 8 questions for the knowledge, 5 questions for attitude and 11 questions related to practice. Cronbach's&nbsp;alpha&nbsp;coefficients&nbsp;were&nbsp;acceptable for&nbsp;all&nbsp;domains. The RMSEA criterion was ≤ 0.05 and its upper band confidence interval (CI 90%) was ≤ 0.1. Also, CFI indicated the suitability of the model (the desired value of CFI&gt; 0.9). Inter-Class Correlation/ICC revealed the appropriate measure (ICC=0.998). Conclusion: The measures showed that this instrument is valid and reliable, also culturally adjusted to and acceptable for this community. It may adequately evaluate staffs’ knowledge, attitude, and practice toward oral health.

Comparison of Different Methods of Education in the Adoption of Oral Health Care Knowledge.

Aim: The scope of this study was to determine if there is a critical distinction in the usage of lectures, videos, and pamphlets as educational material utilized in the adoption of oral health care knowledge. Materials and methods: Three-hundred and thirty children from ages 11 to 13 from the city of Split, Croatia completed the questionnaire on oral health care knowledge. Consequently, they were educated by randomly using a method: lecture, pamphlet, or video. Finally, after education, their knowledge was tested again. Results: Different statistical tests were used for comparison of different sets of data. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test showed a statistically significant difference (p ˂ 0.001) compared to the results before and after education. The Kruskal–Wallis test comparing knowledge outcomes after three different types of education: video, lecture, and pamphlet, showed a statistically significant difference in the final knowledge between groups (p ˂ 0.05). A pairwise comparison between different types of education showed a significant statistical difference between education conducted by pamphlet and video material (p = 0.003) and pamphlet and lecture (p = 0.006). No difference was observed between the level of knowledge acquired through video material education and lectures (p = 0.928). Conclusion: Videos and lectures as means of education showed equal effectiveness in the adoption of oral health care knowledge, while the pamphlet was a method that proved to be less effective.

Oral health knowledge, attitudes, and practices of undergraduate students at a South African University of Technology

Awareness of oral health is essential for developing healthy habits, and a correlation between improved knowledge and better oral health has been shown to exist. Health-related behaviours are more likely to be followed if a person has greater control over their health with a better understanding of diseases and their aetiology. To determine the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding oral health care among undergraduate students in the Life Sciences Department at a University of Technology, Free State. This descriptive study gives insights into the oral hygiene knowledge, attitudes, and practices of undergraduate students in the Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Department of Life Sciences at a University of Technology. Data were collected using an online questionnaire eliciting quantitative and qualitative data. The results revealed that most of the participants, 80% (n=178) understood that oral health is essential to their overall wellbeing. Overall, in this research, the findings of oral health education were found not to be covered. However, we found that variations in the source of dental information were correlated with university students’ oral health behaviour. The study, therefore, concludes that oral health care knowledge, attitudes and practices are affected by education and show that advocacy for the promotion of oral health is significant for the students.

Factors Influencing the Provision of Oral Health Care Practices by Antenatal Care Providers: A Systematic Review.

Background: Antenatal care (ANC) providers are recommended to promote oral health care during pregnancy through the provision of oral health care practices, but studies have indicated that providers remain unclear and inconstant in adopting these practices into routine care. Therefore, the objectives were to undertake a systematic review of the current oral health care practices of ANC providers and identify factors (barriers and facilitators) that influence the provision of ANC providers' oral health care practices. Methods: Qualitative and quantitative studies were systematically searched within four databases (database inception, October 2020). Studies were selected if they were published in English and conducted in developed countries. Thematic analysis was employed where reported barriers and facilitators from the included studies were grouped by themes and were inductively categorized within a multilevel framework. Reported current oral health care practices were deductively categorized according to a predetermined "assess," "advise," and "refer" framework. Summative frequencies of oral health care practices, if reported, were also extracted. Results: A total of 3519 ANC providers were included across 26 studies. Rates of reported current oral health care practices among ANC providers varied considerably. The most reported barriers related to providers' limited oral health care knowledge, concerns with dental costs, and absence of organizational referral processes. The most reported facilitators related to providers' level of oral health care knowledge, patient prompt, and access to informational and educational resources. Conclusions: Further efforts are needed to address the range of barriers identified in this review and support ANC providers' clinical practice behaviors. This includes improved interprofessional education, training opportunities, and integrated health care models.

Oral Health Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Among School Children in Abha-Saudi Arabia.

Oral health is a very critical component of individuals' physical and psychological well-being. The present study aimed to investigate the dental health knowledge, attitude, and practice among schoolchildren in Abha. A cross-sectional epidemiological study was conducted. Each student completed a questionnaire regarding oral health. The participants were 800 students: 54.8% were male and 45.2% were female. Knowledge scores showed that -59.1% of the participants have fair knowledge. Statistically significant results were found between the age, school type, and students' educational level with the knowledge of oral health care (p < .05). More than half of the participants had positive attitudes (57.2%) and less than half demonstrated satisfactory oral health habits (45.3%). Students' educational level was significantly associated with attitudes and practices (p < .05). It can be concluded that the average knowledge, attitude, and practice level was 53.9%, which is not a positive indicator and needs to be strengthened.

Dental and Oral Problems among Diabetic Patients: A Developing Country Local Perceptual Study

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder that is globally considered as a commonly encountered, non-communicable disease. Aim: The main study objective was to gauge how a section of diabetic patients in a developing nation does perceive the general complications of DM with a special emphasis on the oral health. It also aimed to evaluate their knowledge and practice of oral hygiene and dental health care in general. Methodology: A cross-sectional Arabic language questionnaire-based study was performed. It included 24 questions. Study sample was those diabetic patients attending the different themes of the university health outpatients clinics. It included patients, suffering from type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Obtained data were statistically analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences for version 26.0. Armonk, NY, IBM Corporation. Results: Nine hundred and eighteen diabetic patients were included in the study. They were 507 females and 411 males the female-to-male ratio of 1.2–1. Their average age ranged from 10 up to 68 years. Studied sample showed 532 illiterate patients (58%). The remaining 386 literate ranged from elementary education up to university. Five hundred and seventy patients (65%) suffered of DM for more than 12 years. Among the total studied 918 patients, 165 (18%) were smokers. Three hundred and seven patients (40%) were highly oriented with the dental and oral complications of diabetes with different perceptual levels. Conclusion: Although DM patients are highly susceptible to suffer of an increased risk of developing dental caries, their knowledge and perception dental health was deficient. However, most of them attained satisfactory knowledge about different. Medical complications of diabetes and the effect of DM on the body systems. There overall practice of oral hygiene is found to be good. Despite the limited sample size of the current study, it highlighted the necessity of inaugurating a more intensive community educational program to educate the general population about the general health complication of DM with a special of focus on oral and dental health. It is recommended to carry other similar studies with higher numbers in the future to assure the efficacy of public educational programs.

Home care aides’ attitudes to training on oral health care

This study investigated home care aides’ (HCAs) oral health care experience, knowledge, and their intention to receive professional training, to explain and predict factors of their intention to receive such training. This cross-sectional study collected data through a structured questionnaire. HCAs affiliated with home care agencies in Taichung, Taiwan were recruited through purposive sampling. A total of 487 questionnaires were distributed from September to December 2015 with 280 valid responses collected (57.4%).This study predicted the factors of HCAs’ intention to receive oral health care training through a decision tree analysis. The decision tree model classified the respondents with an accuracy of 77.5%. The optimal predictor variable was oral health care knowledge (χ2 = 66.662, p < 0.0001). Among the low-scoring respondents on oral health care knowledge, 76.4% were classified in the “uninterested” group, whereas 84.8% of the high scorers were classified in the “interested” group. The second best predictor variable was whether oral health care is part of the job responsibility (χ2 = 7.979, p = 0.007). Among those who answered Yes, 92.9% were in the interested group, as were 76.5% of those who answered No. It is recommended to add “disease and oral care-related content” and “safety protection, assessment, and usage of oral care tools during practical oral care process” to the oral healthcare training course content for HCAs in order to improve HCAs’ oral healthcare knowledge and oral care skills. These research findings are valuable and may be taken into account in the future development of the in-service educational training of oral healthcare for HCAs.

Correlation of knowledge and attitude on the practice of pregnant women’s oral health

Introduction: During pregnancy, hormonal changes can increase susceptibility to oral diseases. Oral disease can pose a risk for the baby's oral health and pregnancy outcomes. Oral problems and their complications during pregnancy can be prevented by maintaining oral health behaviours that include knowledge, attitude, and practice. This study was aimed to analyse the correlation of knowledge and attitude on the practice of pregnant women's oral health. Methods: A descriptive-analytic research with a cross-sectional method was conducted towards 65 pregnant women at Sukajadi Community Health Centre (Puskesmas), Bandung, taken as a sample through purposive sampling technique. Data collection was carried out using a questionnaire. The statistical test used in this study was the Spearman correlation test. Results: The study showed that 66.2% of pregnant women had good knowledge of oral health care, 27.7% had adequate knowledge, and 6.2% had poor knowledge. Observation on oral health care attitude found that 56.9% of pregnant women had a good attitude, 43.1% had a fair attitude, and none were in the poor category. Oral health care practice of pregnant women resulted from 15.4% was in a good category, 60.0% in the fair category and 24.6% was in the poor category. The statistical analysis results between the attitude and the practice of oral health care showed a weak correlation with the correlation coefficient (rs) 0.124 and a significance value (p-value) was higher than 0.05 (0.325), indicating that there was no significant relationship between attitudes and the practice of oral health care. Conclusion: There is no correlation between knowledge and attitude on the practice of pregnant women's oral health.

Community pharmacists' knowledge, attitudes and practices towards oral healthcare and its management: A systematic review.

Community pharmacists play a significant part in providing oral healthcare advice as there are significant connections between oral healthcare and body system healthcare. To systematically review the literature regarding the knowledge, attitudes and practice of community pharmacists in managing oral healthcare problems. A systematic review was conducted through Scopus, PubMed and Google Scholar databases. Studies regarding knowledge, attitudes and practice of management of dental care by community pharmacists between 1990 and 2019 were included. Forest plot was performed to access knowledge, attitudes and practice of community pharmacist on oral healthcare. The results showed there were 44% of community pharmacists have a lack of knowledge on oral healthcare to provide an appropriate recommendation to patients with dental problems. Eighty-eight per cent of community pharmacists were willing to improve their knowledge of oral healthcare. There were 86% of them recognised that their role was significant in oral health. However, there were 59% of community pharmacists who had poor attitude in providing oral health information. Community pharmacists were lacking knowledge on oral health mainly because of paucity in providing appropriate training courses. This has led to poor practices towards oral healthcare as they were unable to provide suitable products recommendations to the patients. This has led the community pharmacists into lack of attitudes in providing oral health information. However, most of the community pharmacists were conscious of their role in the oral healthcare system and were willing to improve their knowledge of oral healthcare.