Perioperative changes in knowledge and attitude toward oral health by oral health education

Relationship between Knowledge and Attitude toward Oral Function in Middle-Aged and Older Adults

Oral hypofunction is the stage at which recovery can be expected with proper diagnosis, management, and motivation before oral dysfunction occurs. The knowledge and attitude toward oral function can influence the maintenance and improvement of oral function. However, whether middle-aged and older adults with declining oral function have knowledge of their oral function and how this knowledge and their attitude affect their oral function are unclear. Therefore, we aimed to examine (1) the relationship between knowledge and attitude toward oral function and hypofunction in individuals with suspected oral hypofunction and (2) changes in knowledge and attitude toward oral function through evaluation and education. Participants aged ≥50 years were enrolled during their first community dental clinic visit. A questionnaire assessment of knowledge and attitudes before and after oral function evaluation was performed. The oral function was initially assessed with seven criteria: oral hygiene; oral dryness; occlusal force; tongue pressure; tongue-lip motor, masticatory, and swallowing function. Associations between knowledge and attitudes and their changes were statistically analyzed. Fifty-nine participants (93.7%) were unaware of “oral hypofunction.” Associations between knowledge and attitudes and their changes in the negative to positive response groups, from 86.4% and 61.0% to 6.8% and 25.4%, respectively, after oral function evaluation, indicated that participants understood their oral function and the need for training. Middle-aged and older individuals with poor knowledge and attitudes were more likely to have a worse oral function; however, their knowledge and attitudes toward oral function could be improved through oral function assessment and education.

Factors That Influence the Judgment of Oral Management Necessity in Preoperative Oral Screening

Oral management during the perioperative period is important to prevent the development of postoperative complications. However, there are no unified systems to examine the oral status of patients and very few studies have focused on preoperative oral screening. In this study, we examined the oral status of patients who underwent oral screening at a University Hospital. A total of 1173 patients who underwent oral screening for perioperative management from April 2020 to July 2021 were enrolled. The subjects’ medical data were retrospectively extracted from the dental records, and finally, the data of 1081 patients aged ≥20 years were analyzed. Oral screening based on seven categories was performed by dentists or dental hygienists. Our cumulative results determined whether patients required oral management during the perioperative period. “Poor oral hygiene” was the most frequent category (24%) of all oral categories examined. Logistic analysis revealed that tooth mobility had the highest odds ratio (21.476; 95% confidence interval: 11.462–40.239; p < 0.001) for oral management necessity during the perioperative period. Our study suggests that poor oral hygiene is most frequently observed in preoperative oral screening. Moreover, tooth mobility in preoperative oral screening may influence the judgment of oral management necessity during the perioperative period.

Comparison of Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Nursing and Medical Students in Kermanshah, Iran, about Toothbrush Maintenance and Use

Background

To promote oral health in society, medical and nursing students are required to have acceptable knowledge, attitude, and practice with respect to correct maintenance and use of a toothbrush. This study explored the knowledge, attitude, and practice of Iranian medical and nursing students about the correct maintenance and use of a toothbrush.

Methods

A total of 260 nursing students and 320 medical students were randomly recruited. Data were collected by a researcher-made questionnaire on the knowledge, attitude, and practice about toothbrush maintenance and use. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.

Results

The mean scores of knowledge, attitude, and practice were 54.53 ± 17.18, 49.67 ± 19.17, and 19 ± 51.50 in the nursing students and 54.17 ± 21.42, 51.18 ± 87.28, and 49.87 ± 17.52 out of 100 in the medical students, respectively. There was no significant difference between the medical and nursing students in the mean score of knowledge. The medical and nursing students had a similar attitude and practice in most items of toothbrush maintenance and use.

Conclusion

The medical and nursing students had average knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding toothbrush maintenance and use, which is not acceptable considering their job nature. Hence, interventional measures should be taken to enhance their knowledge, attitude, and practice.

Relationship between Oral Health Status and Postoperative Fever among Patients with Lung Cancer Treated by Surgery: A Retrospective Cohort Study

A retrospective observational study using an oral bacteria counter was conducted to evaluate the trends in the number of oral bacteria in the perioperative period of lung cancer patients and to verify the relationship between oral health status and postoperative fever. All patients received perioperative oral management (POM) by oral specialists between April 2012 and December 2018 at Kagawa Prefectural Central Hospital, Kagawa, Japan prior to lung cancer surgery. Bacteria counts from the dorsum of the tongue were measured on the day of pre-hospitalization, pre-operation, and post-operation, and background data were also collected retrospectively. In total, 441 consecutive patients were enrolled in the study. Bonferroni’s multiple comparison test showed significantly higher oral bacteria counts at pre-hospitalization compared to pre- and post-operation (p < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed that body mass index, performance status, number of housemates, number of teeth, and white blood cell count at pre-operation were significantly associated with postoperative fever. The study showed that POM can reduce the level of oral bacterial counts, that the risk of postoperative complications is lower with dentulous patients, and that appropriate POM is essential for prevent of complications. Therefore, POM may play an important role in perioperative management of lung cancer patients.

Oral health behavior among school children aged 11-13 years in Saveh, Iran: an evaluation of a theory-driven intervention

Background

Good oral health (OH) is essential for physical, social, mental health, and overall quality of life. This study assessed the usefulness of the theory of planned behavior (TPB) in changing oral health-related behaviors among school children aged 11–13 years in Saveh, Iran.

Methods

In this descriptive before and after study, participants were sixth-grade students at single sex primary schools in Saveh city, Iran. We recruited 356 school children in 2019. Using simple random sampling, a male and a female school per district were allocated to the experimental group and the remaining schools to the control group. Our planned oral health education consisted of four one-hour training sessions over 1 week. The first session familiarized the participants with important information about OH. In the second session, we applied a brain storming exercise to identify the benefits and barriers to flossing and brushing. In the third session, a short film about correct brushing and dental flossing technique was shown and research team also used role-playing to correct any mistakes. In the final session students were taught about the importance and the application of OH planning and given forms to help plan for brushing.

Results

Participants for the study included 356 students (180 in the experimental group and 176 in the control group) who completed the post-test questionnaire. The mean age ± standard deviation was 11.55 years ±0.93 in the experimental group and 11.58 years ±1.01 in the control group. After the intervention, the paired t-test indicated a significant difference between the mean and standard deviation of the action plan and coping plan constructs in the experimental group before and after the intervention (p < 0.05). Covariance analysis indicated a significant difference between scores of intervention and control groups under statistical control of post-test in two groups (covariate) after a peer-led education program (post-test) (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

A shortage of professional health workers in education settings together with the ease, usefulness and low-cost of this peer-led method, suggest further steps should be taken to implement it more widely to improve and enhance primary school aged students’ oral health behavior.