Oral health education and promotion in maternal and child health: a position paper

Factors related to children's caries: a structural equation modeling approach

BACKGROUND

Dental caries among preschool children is highly prevalent in many less-developed countries.

METHODS

A model which explored the factors related to children's dental caries was tested in this study using structural equation modeling. Caregivers of children aged 5 years were surveyed on their socioeconomic status, and their oral health knowledge, attitudes and practices. In addition, information on their children's oral health practices, dental insurance and dental service utilization were collected. Examination of caries was conducted on all children who returned fully completed questionnaires.

RESULTS

The results showed that socioeconomic factors influenced children's oral health practices through the impact of caregivers' oral health knowledge and practices; that caregivers' oral health knowledge affected children's oral health practices through the influence of caregivers' oral health attitudes and practices; and finally, that children's oral health practices were linked directly to their caries.

CONCLUSION

The findings have important applications for promoting policies aimed at advancing children's oral health.

Do maternal factors influence the dental health status of Nigerian pre-school children?

OBJECTIVE

This study was designed to investigate the relationship between maternal related factors and the dental health status of pre-school children in Lagos State, Nigeria.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study of 404 pairs of mothers and their pre-school children was conducted at two selected primary health centres in Lagos State Nigeria. An interviewer administered questionnaire recorded the mother's socio-demographic characteristics and assessed her perception of her child's dental needs, attitude to oral disease prevention, level of dental health knowledge and attitude to oral health. The child's dental status was assessed using the dft index (caries status) and the simplified oral hygiene index. Data analysis tools included Spearman's correlation coefficient and multivariate logistic regression.

RESULTS

Maternal age, maternal education, location of residence, maternal knowledge, and attitudes were all positively correlated with the child's caries and oral hygiene status. There were statistically significant correlations between maternal attitude and the oral hygiene index (P = 0.01) and dft score (P = 0.001). Maternal age also had a significant relationship with the child's caries status (P = 0.003).

CONCLUSION

This study concluded that maternal age and attitude were important determinants of caries experience whereas the mother's attitude was an important determinant of oral cleanliness in pre-school children in Lagos State Nigeria.

Knowledge of oral cancer, distress and screening intentions: longer term effects of a patient information leaflet

Study aim was to determine the influence of a patient information leaflet (PIL) on mouth cancer to improve knowledge, reduce distress and increase intention to accept a mouth screen over a 2-month period. The design was a randomised controlled trial. Two dental practices in the northwest of England participated. Standardised multi-item scales of the three outcome measures were employed. The PIL was given to a randomised intervention group of patients in waiting room. Single sheet questionnaire was completed by both groups of patients at baseline in waiting room (immediately following leaflet administration in intervention arm of study). Repeat questionnaire completion at 8 weeks by all patients through postal system. Mann-Whitney U-tests comparing outcome variables between patients with and without access to the leaflet at baseline and 8 weeks were performed. Multiple logistic regression was used to predict re-reading of the leaflet at home. Useable replies were received from 317 patients (60% response rate). All measures showed some benefit of immediate exposure to the leaflet at follow up. Older patients, less initial knowledge, and self-reported smoking positively predicted the re-reading of the leaflet. The introduction of a mouth cancer PIL into dental practice may help to inform patients about oral cancer, moderate distress and encourage acceptance of an oral health screen.

National survey of Korean dentists' knowledge and opinions: dental caries etiology and prevention

OBJECTIVE

Dentists have the potential to influence what their patients know and do regarding dental caries prevention. The practices of dentists and what they tell their patients are influenced, in part, by their own knowledge and opinions. The purposes of this study were to determine the level of knowledge and opinions about caries etiology and prevention among Korean dentists and to describe related factors.

METHODS

A pretested, 27-item questionnaire was mailed to 2,047 dentists, selected by a stratified random sampling allocated proportionately. A postcard reminder was sent to all dentists after one week. Nonrespondents were sent additional complete mailings after three, seven, and nine weeks. The response rate was 83 percent (n = 1,700 dentists).

RESULTS

Analysis of six factors thought to be related to knowledge about caries etiology and prevention showed that recent graduates and dentists who worked in public health centers were likely to be more knowledgeable about caries etiology and prevention than their counterparts (P < .05). In regression analysis of perceived effectiveness of caries-preventive procedures for children, recent graduates, males, and dentists who worked in public health centers tended to rate caries-preventive procedures more effective than other dentists (P < .05). Dentists who had experience with school-based preventive programs and dentists in rural areas were likely to rate caries-preventive procedures for adults more effective than other dentists (P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, results of this study suggest that the majority of dentists do not know current information concerning etiology and prevention of dental caries, mechanisms of action of fluoride, and effectiveness of preventive procedures for children and adults. Efforts to enhance the level of knowledge and practices of Korean dentists about caries prevention should focus on strategies to educate older graduates and female dentists, especially those in private practice.

The need for health promotion in oral cancer prevention and early detection

OBJECTIVES

This review paper provides a rationale for using health promotion to help reduce morbidity and mortality due to oral cancers by identifying barriers to prevention and early detection of these cancers and discussing strategies for change.

METHODS

A literature review of the following areas was conducted: epidemiology of and risk factors for oral cancers; knowledge, opinions, and practices of health care providers and the public regarding prevention, early detection, and control of oral cancers; and policies and regulations that either enhance or act as barriers to the prevention and early detection of oral cancers.

RESULTS

Overall, the public is ill-informed about risk factors for and signs and symptoms of oral cancers and relatively few US adults have had an oral cancer examination. Further, health care providers are remiss in providing oral cancer examinations and detecting early oral cancers.

CONCLUSIONS

To achieve the 13 oral cancer objectives contained in "Healthy People 2000," health care providers and the public must know the risk factors for these cancers as well as their signs and symptoms. Further, health care providers need to provide oral cancer examinations routinely and competently. Equally important, the public needs to know that an examination for oral cancer is available and that they can request one routinely. Thus, a vigorous agenda that includes education, policy, and research initiatives is needed to enhance oral cancer prevention and early detection.

U.S. adult knowledge of risk factors and signs of oral cancers: 1990

A sample of U.S. adults were asked questions to assess their knowledge of oral cancer as part of the 1990 Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Supplement of the National Health Interview Survey. Tobacco use was the only risk factor most adults identified correctly. Only 25 percent of those surveyed could identify one sign of oral cancer. Overall, there is extensive misinformation and a general lack of knowledge.

Knowledge of and practices related to caries prevention among Koreans

OBJECTIVES

This study assessed the knowledge and opinions of caries prevention and source of oral health information among Koreans.

METHODS

A questionnaire consisting of 36 items was used to interview 2,000 Koreans 10 through 69 years of age. Results for only selected questions are reported. A multistage, stratified, random sampling method was used.

RESULTS

Sixty-nine percent of the respondents had heard about fluoride. Only 16 percent knew that some community water supplies in Korea are fluoridated. Fifty-five percent of respondents who knew about community water fluoridation learned the information from television, whereas 28 percent read about it in a newspaper. Among those respondents who reported hearing about community water fluoridation, only 30 percent had precise information about its purpose. Fifty-five percent of the respondents reported that toothbrushing is the best way to maintain good oral health. Almost all respondents (97 percent) reported brushing their teeth one or more times a day.

CONCLUSIONS

These data indicate that there is a relatively low level of accurate knowledge about dental caries prevention among Koreans 10 through 69 years of age. The majority of respondents report learning information about oral health from the mass media.