Oral Health Literacy Adults Questionnaire Research Articles

Relationship between oral health literacy and oral health-related quality of life in patients with bladder cancer

IntroductionBladder cancer is one of the most important diseases that threatens oral and dental health due to its nature and side effects of chemotherapy. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate the relationship between oral health literacy and oral health-related quality of life in patients with bladder cancer.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted on patients with bladder cancer in Ahvaz, 2023. Subjects were selected randomly from the patients those were registered in Cancer Registry Center in Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical sciences and invited to Golestan Hospital for data collection through clinical evaluation, the Oral Health Literacy Adult Questionnaire (OHL-AQ), and the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14PER) questionnaire. The data were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient, independent t-test, and analysis of variance.ResultsThe number of participants was 194. The mean oral health literacy in patients with bladder cancer was 9.74 ± 2.39, indicating insufficient oral health literacy. A significant association was observed between OHL-AQ and DMFT index, but no significant association was found between OHIP-14PER and DMFT index. Furthermore, a significant correlation was found between OHL-AQ and OHIP-14PER (r = −0.68) in patients with bladder cancer.ConclusionBased on the findings of the present study, all dimensions of oral health literacy have correlation with the oral health-related quality of life in patients with bladder cancer. Therefore, adopting oral health behaviors and increasing oral health literacy can be the best way to improve the oral health-related quality of life to among patients with bladder cancer.

The relationship between dental anxiety and oral health literacy with oral health-related quality of life

Background and AimDental anxiety is a prevalent issue in society, characterized by an uneasy sensation and anticipation of negative experiences in dental settings. In essence, dental anxiety, oral health literacy, and quality of life may have a relationship with each other, however, there is a shortage of evidence examining the interplay between these factors. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the relationship between dental anxiety and oral health literacy (OHL) with oral health-related quality of life (OHRQOL).MethodsThis is an analytical cross-sectional study conducted on 155 patients referred to the Department of Oromaxillofacial Diseases. Three questionnaires consisting of dental anxiety scale, oral health impact profile- 14, and oral health literacy adult questionnaire were used to measure anxiety, health literacy, and the quality of life-related to oral health. Scores were recorded and analyzed by IBM SPSS 24 software using independent samples T-test and ANOVA. Besides, the confirmatory modeling through the goodness of fit index of the model was applied.ResultsThis study involved 155 participants, with a mean age of 38.44 ± 14 years. The majority were females, comprising 99 individuals (63.9%). In this study, 89 patients (57.4%) had dental anxiety. The mean OHL score in the examined participants was 9.88 ± 3.97. Both factors of anxiety (p < 0.001) and OHL (p = 0.012) had a significant effect on the OHRQOL. There was no significant difference in the mean OHRQOL among the three categories of OHL (p = 0.085). The confirmatory modeling showed that only the fourth (p = 0.065) and fifth (p = 0.146) questions of the OHL questionnaire had no significant effect on the total score of OHL. Besides, both factors of anxiety (p < 0.001) and OHL (p = 0.012) had a significant effect on OHRQOL. With an increase of one unit in anxiety, the OHRQOL score increases by 0.31 and for a one-unit increase in the OHL score, the OHRQOL score decreases by 0.66 units.ConclusionIn conclusion, it seems that considering various dimensions of oral and dental health can help patients to have reduced psychological anxiety. Notably, further multicenter studies assessing diverse variables related to dental anxiety, OHL, and OHRQOL, and considering more comprehensive study designs with longitudinal follow-up could help provide insights into how changes in dental anxiety and OHL over time affect OHRQOL.

Comparison between various oral health literacy scales among university students in Jaipur, India

Background: Oral health literacy (OHL) is a multidimensional concept that encompasses reading, writing, speaking, listening, proper decision-making skills, assessment of OHL level, and comparison between scales. Numerous tools are available to measure OHL using a range of indicators. Aim: The purpose of this study is to compare three OHL scales, namely, Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine and Dentistry-20 (REALMD-20), OHL Adults Questionnaire (OHL-AQ), and Health Literacy in Dentistry (HeLD), among university students in Jaipur, India. Methods: A comparative study was conducted among 180 university students from non-medical courses. Students’ literacy was measured using REALMD-20, OHL-AQ, and HeLD. Independent sample t-test, one-way ANOVA, Kruskal–Wallis test, and Pearson’s correlation test were used for statistical analysis. Results: A weak positive correlation coefficient was obtained between REALMD-20, OHL-AQ, and HeLD. The mean REALMD-20 scores of Groups 1, 2, and 3 were 16.3, 14.98, and 15.8, respectively. For OHL-AQ, the mean scores obtained for Groups 1, 2, and 3 were 6.77, 7.50, and 6.58, respectively. The mean HeLD scores in Groups 1, 2, and 3 were 104.23, 102.70, and 100.4, respectively. However, the differences between these groups on all three tested scales were not statistically significant. Conclusion: In the present study, a weak positive correlation was observed between REALMD-20, OHL-AQ, and HeLD, thereby revealing potential shortcomings in each of these tools. Relevance for Patients: Encouraging patients to articulate their comprehension of their conditions and instructions enables health-care providers to identify gaps and enhance OHL, leading to effective prevention of oral diseases.

Oral Health Literacy Rate Among Schoolteachers—A Quantitative Study

Abstract Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate oral health literacy (OHL) rate among schoolteachers of Abbottabad city by using structured questionnaire divided in sections of reading skills, numeracy, listening skills, and appropriate decision-making skills. Materials and Methods Descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among schoolteachers with survey method. Total 159 participants were selected as sample from 10 different local schools of Abbottabad city. Data was gathered by using OHL-AQ (oral health literacy-adult questionnaire) with convenient sampling technique. Responses were calculated by using IBM SPSS.V.26 and descriptive analyses were performed. Results Satisfactory results were seen among schoolteachers: high-level of OHL, 44.65%; moderate level of OHL, 40.9 and low-level OHL, 14.46%. The questionnaire section, “numeracy-calculation skills” and “appropriate decision-making skills,” exhibited high scores. Conclusion This study concluded that the OHL rate among schoolteachers was satisfactory. But as teachers play a pivotal role in shaping and influencing young minds, setting a goal of achieving 100% would ensure commitment toward better oral health of their wards. Those participants who showed considerably low OHL level is alarming for oral health challenges.

Do sociodemographic factors influence the levels of health and oral literacy? A cross-sectional study

BackgroundOral health literacy has gained importance in dental literature, and its relationship with oral health status and association with health status (HL) has been reported. Then, an association between the levels of HL and OHL could be expected. This study aimed to assess the levels of HL and OHL according to sociodemographic factors and to explore a possible association between HL and OHL.MethodsThe European Health Literacy Survey and Oral Health Literacy Adults Questionnaire were applied to a convenience sample from Portuguese individuals. Also, sociodemographic factors such as sex, age, schooling level of the participants and their parents, and if the participants were professionals or students of the health field were assessed. To analyze the data, the Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney U tests were used to compared sociodemographic variables and the levels of literacy in general and oral health. The Spearman correlation test assessed the correlation between the levels of HL and OHL.ResultsHL results showed that 45.1% of the volunteers were considered in a “problematic level” and 10.3% in “excellent level”. However, 75% presented an adequate level of OHL. Regarding the levels of HL in each sociodemographic variable, significant higher levels of “excellent level” were found in health professionals and students when compared with participants not related to health area (p < 0.001). Comparisons between the levels of OHL in each sociodemographic variable showed, significant differences regarding sex (p < 0.05), age (p < 0.001), levels of schooling of the participants and their parents (p < 0.009 and p < 0.001) and relationship with health field. (p < 0.001). A significant positive – weak correlation was found between HL and OHL (p < 0.001).ConclusionsHL and OHL levels are associated and could be influenced by sociodemographic factors.

Correlation between health literacy and life quality in elderly patients with chronic periodontitis.

This study aims to explore the status quo of health literacy and quality of life in elderly patients with chronic periodontitis and determine their correlation to understand the influencing factors of health literacy and quality of life. A total of 150 elderly patients with chronic periodontitis were investigated using the general information questionnaire, Oral Health Literacy-Adult Questionnaire, and Oral Health Impact Profile for Chronic Periodontitis. The total scores of health literacy and quality of life of elderly patients with chronic periodontitis were 6.59±4.11 and 29.25±9.42, respectively. The total score of health literacy was negatively correlated with the total score of quality of life (r=-0.234, P<0.01). Regression analysis showed that age, place of residence, education level, and disease understanding were the influencing factors of health literacy. Family history, smoking, and education level were the influencing factors of quality of life. The health literacy level of elderly patients with chronic periodontitis is insufficient, and their quality of life needs to be improved. Improving the health literacy of patients is an effective way to improve their quality of life. Nursing staff must formulate corresponding health education strategies to improve the health literacy of patients and improve their quality of life.

Zusammenhang von Mundgesundheitskompetenz und -verhalten mit physischer Mundgesundheit. Welche Rolle kann die zahnmedizinische Ausbildung spielen?

ZusammenfassungHintergrundMundgesundheit ist ein wesentlicher Bestandteil der allgemeinen Gesundheit und des Wohlbefindens. Sie wird von vielen Faktoren beeinflusst. Dazu zählen insbesondere individuelle Aspekte wie Mundgesundheitskompetenz und -verhalten. Ziel der Studie war die Bestimmung des konkreten Zusammenhangs zwischen Mundgesundheitskompetenz und -verhalten mit physischer Mundgesundheit.MethodenIn dieser bevölkerungsbasierten Querschnittsstudie wurden Daten von insgesamt 5510 Personen, welche von 2016 bis 2018 in die Hamburg City Health Study (HCHS) eingeschlossen wurden, mit einem durchschnittlichen Alter von 62,1 Jahren und einem Frauenanteil von 50,7 % ausgewertet. Die physische Mundgesundheit wurde mit den 14 Items des Physical Oral Health Index (PhOX) erhoben. Zur Bestimmung von Mundgesundheitskompetenz und -verhalten wurde ein neu entwickelter Fragebogen mit 10 Aspekten basierend auf dem Oral Health Literacy Adult Questionnaire und der 5. Deutschen Mundgesundheitsstudie genutzt.ErgebnisseDer Summenwert der 10 Fragen in Bezug auf Mundgesundheitskompetenz und -verhalten korrelierte signifikant mit dem PhOX-Summenwert (r = 0,23; p < 0,001). Ein Anstieg von einem Punkt des Gesamtwerts zu Mundgesundheitskompetenz und -verhalten war assoziiert mit einer Erhöhung des PhOX-Summenwerts um durchschnittlich 1,45 Punkte. Dies reduzierte sich nur unwesentlich nach Einbeziehung von potenziellen Confoundern wie Alter und Bildung.SchlussfolgerungHöhere Mundgesundheitskompetenz und besseres entsprechendes Verhalten sind assoziiert mit einer besseren Mundgesundheit. Damit bilden Mundgesundheitskompetenz und -verhalten wichtige Zielgrößen in der zahnmedizinischen Ausbildung zur effizienten und nachhaltigen Verbesserung der Mundgesundheit in der Allgemeinbevölkerung.

Seeking treatment for traumatic dental injuries in schoolchildren: A multilevel analysis.

To investigate individual and contextual factors associated with seeking treatment for traumatic dental injuries. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 739 pairs of guardians and children. Guardians answered a questionnaire addressing sociodemographic characteristics, seeking treatment for a tooth injury in the child, and the Oral Health Literacy-Adult Questionnaire. Descriptive analysis and unadjusted and adjusted multilevel Poisson regression analysis (p<0.05). The prevalence of seeking treatment for traumatic dental injury was 44.7%. Sociodemographic variables associated were white skin of the child (PR = 1.30; 95% CI: 1.08-1.76), mother's age older than 35 years (PR = 1.70; 95% CI: 1.50-1.90), married parents (PR = 1.93; 95% CI: 1.70-2.23), guardians with more than eight years of schooling (PR = 2.00; 95% CI: 1.76-2.23), with adequate oral health literacy (PR = 3.33; 95% CI: 3.01-3.62) and the daily use of electronic devices by the child (PR = 1.26; 95% CI: 1.02-1.50). On the contextual level, attending a private school (PR = 1.77; 95% CI: 1.02-3.05) and the number of primary care units with oral health teams in the school district (PR = 1.78; 95% CI: 1.12-2.38) remained associated. Among the children who suffered TDI, adequate oral health literacy on the part of the parents stood out among the factors associated with seeking treatment.

Oral Health Literacy and Its Determinants in Young Couples.

Objectives: Oral health literacy (OHL) is an interplay of cultural, social and individual factors and plays an effective role in public health promotion. This study aimed to assess OHL and its socioeconomic and demographic determinants among young couples. Materials and Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study was conducted on 828 adults between 15 to 35 years in 2018 in Zanjan city. Data regarding their OHL were collected by using a 17-item Oral Health Literacy-Adult Questionnaire (OHL-AQ) that was filled out by a combination of self-report and interview. OHL was categorized as adequate, marginal, and inadequate. The effects of age and gender as demographic variables, and floor area per person as a proxy of financial status on OHL were also assessed. Data were analyzed using the linear and multinomial logistic regression models. Results: The mean OHL score was 7.86±3.83 out of 17 in equal number of males and females. Only 21% of the couples had adequate OHL. The socioeconomic, but not demographic variables had significant correlations with the qualitative and quantitative variables of OHL even after controlling for the effect of confounders. A correlation was particularly found between inadequate OHL and years of education [odds ratio:6.00; 95% CI: 3.86-9.28); P<0.001]. Conclusion: Socioeconomic factors had independent correlations with inadequate OHL. Participants with higher levels of education, those living in urban areas, and individuals with better financial status had higher levels of OHL and lower odds of inadequate OHL.

Factor Analysis of Oral Health Literacy-Adults Questionnaire (OHL-AQ) among Patients Attending a Tertiary Institution of Shimla: A Validity and Reliability Study

ABSTRACT Background and Aim: Oral health literacy (OHL) is an important component of health literacy that is indicated by various constructs of reading, writing, speaking, listening comprehension, and decision-making. Validity and reliability are essential for the accuracy and precision of any questionnaire-based qualitative study. Our aim was to perform a factor analysis of the OHL-AQ scale among patients of Shimla visiting a tertiary institution, for a better understanding of the OHL-AQ scale generalizability in our population. A cross-sectional study was conducted on patients visiting the outpatient department of public health dentistry. Materials and Methods: Data collection procedure included information obtained from the subject that was recorded on a structured proforma using the Oral Health Literacy-Adults Questionnaire (OHL-AQ) developed by Sistani et al. in 2013. Exploratory factor analysis was done in Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 22, and confirmatory factor analysis was done in Jeffreys’s Amazing Statistics Program (JASP) 0.16.3. Convergent validity was determined from the average variance extracted (AVE), and composite reliability (CR) was determined from the rotation component matrix. Discriminant validity was determined by the heterotrait–monotrait matrix ratio of correlation (HTMT). The confirmatory factor analysis results are based on the categories of model fit with various model indices within the recommended accepted levels. Results: The most important to be considered is the root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA = 0.04). The χ2 value was 82.254 and χ2/df was 1.61 with a P value &lt;0.004, which indicates a good fit. Similarly, the goodness of fit index (GFI) was 0.96. Conclusion: Exploratory factor analysis based on correlation matrix reported adequate construct and discriminant validity for this study. Confirmatory factor analysis based on the covariance matrix provided an adequate model fit within the study data. Thus, the OHL-AQ scale has adequate validity and reliability in our study population, though further studies are indicated in other populations and its operationalization is based on predictive validity.

Parental oral health literacy influences preschool children's utilization of dental services.

Parental behavior towards their children's oral health is strongly influenced by parent's Oral Health Literacy (OHL) level. This study evaluated the impact of parental OHL on preschool children's utilization of dental services. A cross-sectional study was conducted with parents of 419 children aged 3 to 5 years who answered a self-administered questionnaire about their perception of their children's oral health and whether their children had already been to a dental visit. Parental OHL level was assessed by the validated version of the Oral Health Literacy Adult Questionnaire (OHL-AQ) translated into Brazilian Portuguese. Univariate and multivariate Poisson regression analyses with robust variance were used for the data analysis (α = 0.05). Most children had already been to a dental visit (73%). Overall, 31.7% of the parents or guardians reported that their children had experienced dental pain or dental caries. Parental OHL level was classified by tercile as low, medium, and high. The final model showed independent associations between children who had already been to a dental visit and higher parental OHL level (PR = 1.16; 95%CI = 1.00-1.35) when compared to the lowest OHL level, higher parental educational level (PR = 1.39; 95%CI = 1.03-1.87) when compared to lower educational level, the report of children's pain and dental caries (PR = 1.22; 95%CI = 1.09-1.36) and married parents or parents in a common-law marriage (PR = 1.17; 95%CI = 1.03-1.93). The prevalence of children who had already been to a dental visit was higher among those parents with a higher OHL level when compared to those with a lower OHL level.

Evaluation of oral health literacy among medical interns in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study

Abstract Introduction: Physicians can play an essential role in promoting their patients’ oral health by integrating oral health screening and education into their practices. Thus, physicians’ oral health literacy (OHL) level can determine their role in oral health promotion. Aim: The assessment of OHL and its related factors among medical interns in Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on medical interns using the OHL- adult questionnaire (OHL-AQ) for data collection. This validated questionnaire has 17 close-ended questions listed in four sections: 1 – perception and knowledge of oral health, 2 – numeracy skills for prescriptions of antibiotic and mouthwash, 3 – communication skills, and 4 – decision-making skills regarding common oral health problems. Results and Discussion: A total of 266 medical interns participated in the study (113 male and 153 female). The mean score of OHL was 10.7 ± 4.24 (out of 17), which falls in the borderline range. About 34% of medical interns had an inadequate level of OHL. OHL was not significantly correlated with age, gender, grade point average, or parent’s level of education (P &gt; 0.05). Conclusion: The present study shows that medical interns demonstrated a borderline level of OHL. Enhancement of oral health knowledge of those future physicians is recommended by the inclusion of oral health courses in their educational curriculum.

Association between Level of Parental Oral Health Literacy and the Rational Use of Fluoride for Children from 0 to 4 Years of Age after Instruction: An Intervention Trial

An inadequate level of oral health literacy (OHL) can hinder the understanding of dental information, which can have a negative impact on health promotion actions, such as the rational use of fluoride. The aims of the present study were (1) to look for association between parents/guardians’ OHL and the amount of fluoride toothpaste used for children from zero to four years of age; (2) to compare the effect of different modes of educational interventions on the amount of fluoride toothpaste used for children from zero to four years of age; and (3) to assess the ability of parents/guardians to choose a toothpaste with adequate fluoride concentration, after the educational intervention. A randomized intervention study was conducted with parents/guardians of children from zero to four years of age (n = 145). The participants answered the Oral Health Literacy Adults Questionnaire and a questionnaire addressing sociodemographic characteristics. The participants were allocated to four intervention groups based on type of counseling (written, oral, written + photograph, and oral + photograph), with randomization stratified by level of OHL. The participants were instructed to place the adequate amount of toothpaste on a toothbrush for children from zero to four years of age (smear of 0.125 mg) before and after the intervention. The correct choice of toothpaste was also evaluated by the interpretation of the labels of four toothpastes of different brands and with different concentrations of fluoride. Associations between variables were tested using the Student’s t test and one-way ANOVA. Level of OHL was associated with the amount of fluoride toothpaste deposited prior to the educational intervention (p = 0.021) and the percentage of approximation to the appropriate amount of fluoride toothpaste (p < 0.05). The choice of toothpaste was associated with schooling (p = 0.031). In conclusion, parents/guardians with adequate OHL better quantified fluoride toothpaste before and after the educational intervention and also came closer to the appropriate amount of toothpaste after the educational intervention. No significant differences in the final amount of toothpaste placed on the toothbrush were found among the intervention groups. The choice of the correct toothpaste was associated with a higher level of schooling.

Characteristics of oral health literacy in Senegal: A cross-sectional study among women in the Department of Pikine.

Senegal having a significant prevalence of socially differentiated oral diseases, oral health literacy (OHL), an individual and social resource, should be considered alongside a remedial response. This work aimed to analyze women’s OHL characteristics. A cross-sectional study on 315 women in Pikine County was carried out, using the Oral Health Literacy-Adult Questionnaire (OHL-AQ) for the OHL data collection and a questionnaire for the women’s socioeconomic characteristics data. These women had an OHL average score of 6.5±3.1 and a median of 6. Among them, 56.5% had a seemingly low OHL level, a little over 68.9% had a score above the median as regards the “listening, communication and understanding” aspect, 58.4% to “decision making”, 55.2% to “understanding numbers” and 33% to “reading and understanding”. According to a multivariate analysis, secondary and higher educated women (p<0.001) with an active social network (p<0.023), in a wealthy household (p<0.0001) and of nuclear household type (p<0.036) had a higher OHL level. Women in Pikine have low OHL and are from working- class households. Therefore, oral health policies must take into account the women’s social network contribution to the OHL improvement.

Validation of the Brazilian Oral Health Literacy-Adults Questionnaire.

Background:Recognizing that a deficit of reading and numeracy skills is associated with poorer oral health, contemporary researchers have identified additional components as important attributes of oral health literacy (OHL). So, the use of comprehensive functional OHL tools is crucial. The Oral Health Literacy-Adults Questionnaire (OHL-AQ) evaluates reading comprehension, numeracy, listening and decision-making skills.Objective:Describe the validation process of the OHL-AQ Brazilian version (BOHL-AQ).Methods:The cross-culturally adapted version, BOHL-AQ, was applied to 180 employees age 18 to 71 years (mean = 37.2; standard deviation [SD] = 11.7) from a private university located in the Southeast of Brazil. Psychometric properties were evaluated through the analysis of internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha), reproducibility (test-retest), convergent validity (BREALD-30; education level), discriminant validity (family income; dental services), predictive validity (self-perception; literacy questions) and construct validity (Exploratory Factor Analysis). Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) evaluated the dimensionality of the BOHL-AQ, with Promax method for rotation. Data were analyzed using SPSS Statistics software and the Mplus program.Key Results:BOHL-AQ mean score = 11.84 (SD = 3.1); administration mean time = 8 minutes (SD = 1.6); good internal reliability (Cronbach's alpha = 0.73) and excellent reproducibility (kappa = 0.89; intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.97). Preliminary tests showed that data were suitable for PCA (Kayser-Meyer-Olkin measure = 0.75; Barlett's Test of Sphericity significant [p < .001]). CFA showed that the instrument had a four-factor solution with excellent model fit estimates (χ2 = 636.587154.16, p value = .00117, Comparative Fit Index = 0.9787, Tucker Lewis index = 0.97, and Root Mean Square Error of the Approximation = 0.03). BOHL-AQ high scores significantly correlated to high education level, dental visit within the last year and for preventive reason, more independence and self-confidence on reading and filling out health forms, and better oral health self-perception (p < .05).Conclusions:The BOHL-AQ showed to be a fast and reliable instrument to assess a comprehensive functional OHL at Brazilian community and clinical settings. [HLRP: Health Literacy Research and Practice. 2022;6(3):e224–e231.]Plain Language Summary:Recognizing the need of advancing knowledge related to OHL, this study aimed to describe the validation process of the BOHL-AQ. Cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric properties evaluation presented satisfactory results. The BOHL-AQ proved to be a fast and valid instrument to measure comprehensive functional OHL in the Brazilian context.

Oral health literacy and socio-demographics as determinants of oral health status and preventive behavior measures in participants of a pre-marriage counseling program.

This analytical cross-sectional study aimed to assess the correlation of oral health literacy (OHL) and oral health status and behavior in participants of a pre-marriage counseling program. Also, it aimed to determine the target population’s OHL needs to design necessary interventions. A total of 828 couples with a mean age of 24.22 years participating in a pre-marriage counseling program were evaluated. Data were collected using the oral health literacy-adult questionnaire (OHL-AQ). Clinical oral examinations were performed to measure the gingival index (GI), plaque index (PI), and DMFT. The mean OHL score of the couples was 7.86±3.83 out of 17; while, the mean DMFT score was 6.30±5.73. After controlling for the confounders, OHL had a significant correlation with the frequency of dental visits, and smoking status, and inverse correlation with the number of decayed teeth and missing teeth, and PI, and GI (p<0.05). The current results highlight the necessity of OHL interventions to fill the existing gaps. This is an unmet need of the couples, and such interventions are required to promote their own oral health as well as the oral health of their future children.

Easy to Read Health Education Material Improves Oral Health Literacy of Older Adults in Rural Community-Based Care Centers: A Quasi-Experimental Study.

Health education increases older adults’ health knowledge and affects their health outcomes. Older adults have physical changes with aging, such as blurred vision and cognitive decline. Therefore, health education materials must be legible in their case. This study, following the “easy (EZ) to read” concept, designed oral health education material and tested the learning effectiveness of older adults in rural community-based care centers in central Taiwan. Three of the communities were provided EZ to read health education material (n = 72), while three were given general text material (n = 57) as the control group. We collected pre-test and post-test scores using the Mandarin version of the oral health literacy adult questionnaire (MOHL-AQ). The demographic background of the EZ to read and general text groups showed no significant difference (p > 0.05). Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) showed that the EZ to read material significantly improved total scores of oral health literacy (p < 0.001). The chi-square test showed a significant improvement in oral health literacy levels (p < 0.001). We suggest applying EZ to read concepts to widen the field of older adult education and to reduce illegibility-induced health knowledge disparities.

Item and scale properties of the Oral Health Literacy Adults Questionnaire assessed by item response theory.

a) To evaluate the item and scale properties of the Oral Health Literacy Adults Questionnaire (OHL-AQ) in an adult general population. b) To determine precision or accuracy of the respondents' estimated scores along the Oral Health Literacy (OHL) spectrum using item response theory (IRT) modeling. Survey data were collected from a convenience sample of 405 adult attendees of the 2014 Minnesota State Fair. We used the two-parameter logistic (2PL) model for the item response theory (IRT) analyses of OHL-AQ data and calibrated items to estimate model-based item difficulty and discrimination parameters. Item and scale properties were also assessed by plotting and interpreting item characteristic curves (ICCs), test characteristic curve (TCC), and test information function (TIF). Based on interpretation of model coefficients, statistical testing, and model fit criteria, we deemed the 2PL model superior and selected this model to examine item and scale properties. Scale reliability was shown to be good through the test information function (TIF). TIF from our analysis showed that higher levels of OHL were measured less precisely than lower levels of OHL. We demonstrated OHL-AQ as a whole has promising psychometric properties. However, for equiprecise measurement across the scale range, the scale needs more items for measuring higher levels of OHL.

ORAL HEALTH LITERACY AMONG THE EMPLOYEES OF FACULTIES OF DENTISTRY AND ENGINEERING, ALEXANDRIA UNIVERSITY

Introduction: Oral health literacy which is considered as the skills required for people to obtain, process and understand basic health information needed to make appropriate oral health decisions is an important determinant of oral health. Employees of the Faculty of Dentistry spend their working hours surrounded by dental educational environment which may affect their dental awareness level. Objectives: To assess the oral health literacy level of the employees of the Faculty of Dentistry (FOD) and to compare the results with those of employees of Faculty of Engineering (FOE), Alexandria University. Materials and Methods: The sample comprised of 386 employees who were proportionally allocated into 78 FOD employees and 308 FOE employees approached in the different administrative departments of both faculties. Oral health literacy level was assessed using the Oral Health Literacy Adult Questionnaire (OHL-AQ). Results: The mean oral health literacy score for Faculty of Dentistry employees was significantly higher than that of the Faculty of Engineering employees (11.49±3.00, 10.34±3.20, respectively). According to the regression model, females (p=0.002), older age group (p=0.01) and higher educational level (p=0.001) were the main predictors of higher OHL-AQ scores. Conclusions: Oral health literacy level of the FOD employees was higher than that of the FOE employees which points to the positive effect of the dental educational environment on OHL of FOD participants.

Validation and evaluation of the Mandarin version of the oral health literacy adult questionnaire in Taiwan.

This study aimed to translate the Oral Health Literacy Adult Questionnaire into a Mandarin version (MOHL-AQ) and to examine its psychometric properties. A methodological research using psychometric testing and evaluation of a translated instrument. A convenience sample of 402 participants from northern Taiwan were recruited for the validation of the MOHL-AQ. Internal consistency reliability, split-half reliability, inter-rater reliability, face validity, content validity, and construct validity were evaluated. The value of internal consistency and split-half reliability of the MOHL-AQ were 0.77 and 0.78, respectively. Content validity reported a high content validity index (CVI=95%). Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and parallel analysis (PA) were used to determine a unidimensional model and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was employed to confirm the model. The indices of good fit model were achieved at GFI=0.93, AGFI=0.92, RMSEA=0.04, CFI=0.90, PGFI=0.73, χ2 /df=1.86 (p<.001). Most of the item-total correlations indicated adequate and acceptable convergent validity (r>.30). MOHL-AQ demonstrates adequate psychometric properties for measuring the oral health literacy in Mandarin-speaking population. Public health nurses can use MOHL-AQ to assess oral health literacy in the community settings and further screen potential population with inadequate oral health literacy.