Oral health promotion evaluation – time for development

Increasing emphasis is now being placed upon the evaluation of health service interventions to demonstrate their effects. A series of effectiveness reviews of the oral health education and promotion literature has demonstrated that many of these interventions are poorly and inadequately evaluated. It is therefore difficult to determine the effectiveness of many interventions. Based upon developments from the field of health promotion research this paper explores options for improving the quality of oral health promotion evaluation. It is essential that the methods and measures used in the evaluation of oral health promotion are appropriate to the intervention. For many oral health promotion interventions clinical measures and methods of evaluation may not be appropriate. This paper outlines an evaluation framework which can be used to assess the range of effects of oral health promotion programmes. Improving the quality of oral health promotion evaluation is a shared responsibility between researchers and those involved in the provision of programmes. The provision of adequate resources and training are essential requirements for this to be successfully achieved.     

Oral health literacy among adult patients seeking dental care

BACKGROUND: This study examined the association of knowledge, dental care visits and oral health status with oral health literacy in dental patients. METHODS: The authors administered to adult patients in two private dental offices the short version of the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Dentistry-30 (REALD-30), a word-recognition test. An interview provided primary predictor variables for REALD-30 and variables that would serve as controls in multivariate logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: About 29 percent of the sample scored below 22 on the 30-point test, a score that the authors defined as a low literacy level. Those with incorrect knowledge (odds ratio [OR] = 5.98; P < .01) and fair-to-poor oral health status (OR = 3.08; P = .06) were more likely to have a low literacy level than were their reference groups. Not having had a dental care visit in the last year was not associated with literacy (OR = 2.26; P = .17). A change from an unfavorable to favorable category for the primary predictor variables would decrease the probability of having a low literacy level by 35 to 61 percent. CONCLUSIONS: A significant number of patients may have a low level of oral health literacy, which possibly interferes with their ability to process and understand oral health information. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Providers should identify patients who are having difficulty understanding and using dental health information and address their needs.     

广州市花都区妊娠妇女口腔健康知识认知状况调查

目的:了解广州市花都区妊娠妇女口腔健康知识的认知状况,为孕期口腔健康教育策略制订提供相关信息。方法:采用系统抽样方法在广州市花都区妇幼保健院抽取521名产检妇女作为问卷调查对象。问卷内容包括人口统计学资料、基本口腔健康知识的认知、妊娠期和婴幼儿口腔健康知识的认知。结果:广州市花都区妊娠妇女基本口腔健康知识得分均值为9.65(总分16),其中龋病知识5.52(总分8)、牙周病知识4.12(总分8);孕期口腔健康知识平均得分3.91(总分7);婴幼儿相关口腔健康知识3.04(总分6)。受教育水平较高者3类口腔健康知识得分均较高(P<0.05),收入较高者婴幼儿相关口腔健康知识得分较高(P<0.05)。不同年龄基本口腔健康知识和孕期口腔健康知识得分有显著性差异(P<0.05),以大龄孕妇得分最低。结论:广州市花都区妊娠妇女口腔健康知识的认知急需改善,尤其是牙周病知识、孕期和婴幼儿口腔健康知识。受教育水平较低、低收入人群和大龄孕妇是重点教育对象。     

Oral health promotion among adults with diabetes in Finland

OBJECTIVES: In the present community trial, changes in oral health among adults with diabetes in Finland were assessed in three differing intervention groups and in a control group. The goal of intervention was to promote periodontal health. METHODS: The study population comprised of 120 adults with diabetes, who were regular patients at the Salo Regional Hospital Diabetes Clinic in Salo, Finland. All underwent periodontal examination in 1999 and 2001. The percentage of dropouts was 4%. Outcome measures were visible plaque, presence of calculus, and the Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs (CPITN) index calculated for each tooth separately. Oral-health-related factors were determined by a questionnaire. Intervention based on the recommended treatment interval was carried out in the following groups: diabetes nurse-letter-reminder group (n = 26), diabetes nurse-reminder group (n = 31), letter-reminder group (n = 30), and a control group (n = 28). RESULTS: A significant decrease occurred in the visible plaque index between 1999 and 2001 in all groups, and in calculus index in the diabetes-nurse-reminder group and in the letter-reminder group. During the study period, only in the control group, the CPITN index codes 3 and 4, calculated for each tooth separately, increased. CONCLUSION: These positive results emphasize the potential of existing health-care actions for promoting periodontal health. With minimal recourse demands, it was possible to increase oral health behaviors and periodontal health among patients with diabetes.     

Oral health knowledge and dental health practices among schoolchildren in Jerash district/Jordan

Abstract:  Objective: This study aims at determining the oral health awareness level, the patterns of dental health practices and their potential relationship with certain socio-demographic factors, including gender (sex), mother's education and the socio-economic status of the family, among 14–15-year-old schoolchildren in Jerash Governorate, Northern Jordan. Participants and method: Cross-sectional survey including 1362 public schoolchildren, who completed a self-administered structured questionnaire. Results: Overall, the level of oral health knowledge among the surveyed children was low. Of the 1362 schoolchildren included in this survey, only 18 and 17% did know the meaning of plaque and what plaque can cause, respectively. Female performance was significantly better than male performance on two of the six knowledge questions ( P <  0.01). While 17% of children have never been to the dentist, there are 10% only who visit the dentist on regular basis. The majority (56%) of these pupils said they visit the dentist when there is a serious dental or oral health problem. Fear of the dentist and difficulty in obtaining an appointment with the dentist were the causes of irregular visit to the dental clinic in 28 and 19% of the cases, respectively. Conclusion: Results of this study prove that oral health awareness level among public schoolchildren in Jordan is still poor and needs to be improved. Based upon these findings, the establishment of a long-term school-based oral health education programme in Jordan is highly recommended.     

盐城市妊娠妇女口腔保健意识及健康状况调查分析

目的 了解盐城市妊娠妇女对孕产期口腔保健知识的掌握程度。方法 对盐城市1 206名妊娠期妇女展开问卷调查,问卷内容涉及口腔保健知识等共16个内容,同时对参加问卷调查的妊娠妇女一并进行常规的口腔健康检查。针对调查结果结合妊娠妇女的年龄、孕周等情况进行统计学分析。结果 本地妊娠妇女口腔保健知识较贫乏,91.34%的孕妇未接受过口腔健康教育;口腔健康状况较差, 妊娠期龋齿及牙龈炎的发病率分别为56.30%和75.04%;软垢及牙石的发生率分别为73.63%和51.33%。而妊娠期龋齿和龈炎的就诊率分别为1.37%和5.66%。结论 应针对妊娠期妇女进行口腔健康教育及行为改进。     

Oral health care for pregnant and postpartum women

Pregnancy may pose a number of concerns to the mother and the foetus. This can include systemic and oral issues that effect health. Transmission of caries-causing bacteria is one problem that can be minimized by utilizing simple, cost-effective measures. Chlorhexidine rinses and xylitol containing chewing gum will be discussed as possible solutions to this tremendous public health problem.     

Oral health knowledge, attitude and practices among Nigerian primary school teachers

To cite this article:
Int J Dent Hygiene 9 , 2011; 254–260
DOI: 10.1111/j.1601‐5037.2010.00498.x
Ehizele A, Chiwuzie J, Ofili A. Oral health knowledge, attitude and practices among Nigerian primary school teachers. Abstract: Background: A multi‐disciplinary approach is needed for effective dental education of children. Teachers can be used as oral health educators but only if they have a good knowledge, attitude and practice of oral health. This study’s main objective was to compare the oral health knowledge, attitude and practices of public and private primary school teachers and to determine the proportion of teachers presently involved with oral health education of school children. Method: The study was carried out on 320 private and 320 public school teachers in Benin‐City, Nigeria, using self‐administered questionnaire. Results: The result revealed that the teachers involved in this study generally had positive attitude to oral health. Many of the two groups of primary school teachers had poor oral health practices. Only 42.4% of the respondents have ever been to the dentist for routine dental checkup or treatment. About 87.6% of teachers still use potentially traumatic materials for interdental cleaning and 60% of teachers consume regularly various forms of refined sugar. Over 90% of the two groups of teachers are presently involved in teaching their pupils basic oral health education although they have a poor knowledge of the aetiology of the two most common oral diseases. The teachers’ major source of oral health information is the dentist. Conclusion: Similar pattern of incomplete oral health knowledge, inappropriate oral practices but positive oral health attitude was observed among the two groups of the studied teachers. This observation suggests that the primary school teachers can serve as oral health educators after organized training to heighten their oral health knowledge and perfect their oral practices.     

Oral health promotion for our ageing Australian population

The ageing Australian population living in the new millennium has dental needs that are very different and more complex than those experienced by previous older adult cohorts during the twentieth century. A summary of the oral health status of older Australians is presented, together with a review of the important relationships between general health and oral health. The key to maintaining and improving older adults' oral health status is the use of oral health promotion strategies that focus not only on dental characteristics, but also on the life characteristics of older adults, and on their quality of life issues. Traditionally, there has been very limited geriatric oral health promotion, with several myths contributing to this situation. Contemporary geriatric oral health promotion in the new millenium has an evidence-based and planned approach. It encompasses not only the treatment of oral diseases and conditions, but has an increased focus on the prevention of oral diseases and conditions to enhance oral health status and older adults' quality of life. Using the Ottawa Charter and a functional dependence classification, a geriatric oral health promotion matrix is presented, using a specific example of Australian residential care.     

Oral health knowledge levels of Hispanics in Iowa

Background

Hispanics disproportionately experience preventable oral health conditions in the United States. This study aimed to determine the oral health knowledge (OHK) of Hispanic adults in Iowa to identify potential gaps in knowledge.

Oral health and treatment needs among patients in psychiatric institutions for the elderly

Abstract – The purpose of the study was to assess oral health and treatment needs among elderly in psychiatric institutions in a Danish county. The study serves as baseline for the evaluation of a newly established oral health care program in the county. The study population comprised the residents in eight institutions ( n = 407). Two thirds of the residents were edentulous, 34% of the dentate had one or more root remnants, and 55% had untreated decay. The dentate with regular dental visiting habits had significantly less untreated decay than the irregular users. The oral hygiene was poor, but was not related to whether or not the elderly were assisted in daily oral hygiene. The evaluation of the program will show to what extent treatment takes place, and whether or not oral hygiene improves.     

The relationship of periodontal disease to diseases and disorders at distant sites: communication to health care professionals and patients

BACKGROUND: The body of research defining relationships among periodontal disease and certain systemic diseases and disorders has been expanding, and questions have been raised regarding what information should be conveyed to health care professionals and patients. METHODS: Representatives from dentistry, medicine, the academic community and the insurance industry convened a two-day workshop July 23 and 24, 2007. RESULTS: The workshop participants achieved general consensus on a number of issues, including the need for greater cooperation between the health care professions. This cooperation should translate into improved clinical care as physicians refer patients for dental care, and dentists are proactive in regard to the general health of their patients. CONCLUSION: Communication to health care professionals requires a multifaceted approach that includes publication of research findings in medical and dental journals, cooperation among professional organizations and initiatives at the local level such as presentations at medical grand rounds. Dental schools should play a role in their health science centers. Communication with patients may improve through the use of targeted informational brochures in the offices of medical specialists, appropriate media campaigns and efforts led by local dental organizations. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: It is too early to provide specific recommendations regarding the treatment of periodontal disease to improve specific health outcomes, but dentists can become advocates for a general health promotion and disease prevention message. The lifestyles approach includes an improved diet, smoking cessation, appropriate hygiene practices and stress reduction. These strategies can improve oral and general health outcomes.     

Association of dental health knowledge with periodontal conditions among regular patients

Although routine patient education concerning periodontal disease is recommended as a means of improving oral health, strong associations between oral health knowledge and plaque or gingival inflammation scores have not been demonstrated. This study examined associations between four knowledge scales (likelihood of keeping teeth, signs of disease, role of diet, role of oral hygiene measures) and six periodontal status measures (plaque, gingivitis, calculus, probing depth, attachment loss, missing teeth) among 1088 regularly attending dental patients. In bivariate correlation analyses, there was a weak, direct association between stronger expectations of keeping teeth and better levels of periodontal health, while an inverse association between knowledge of signs of periodontal disease and better periodontal health was noted. Level of knowledge of the role of oral hygiene or of diet in periodontal disease was not associated with level of disease. When effects associated with age, sex, race, and different dental practices were held constant, these patient knowledge scales did not explain substantial proportions of variance in the periodontal disease measures. Among regular utilizers, the effects of receipt of dental care may be more determinative than level of patient knowledge.