Effect of Dental Health Literacy Promotion Program with Social Support on Gingivitis Prevention Behavior of Caregivers for Elderly

Abstract

This quasi-experimental study aimed to examine the effect of a dental health literacy promotion program combined with social support on gingivitis prevention behavior among caregivers of older adults and on the dental plaque index of the older adults under their care. The sample comprised caregivers of older adults divided into an experimental group (n = 34) and a comparison group (n = 34). The experimental group received a 10-week program consisting of activities to develop the six dimensions of dental health literacy, combined with the use of an intraoral camera and social support provided by the researcher, whereas the comparison group received usual services. Data were collected using a questionnaire and a dental plaque index record form and were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the independent t-test, and the paired t-test.

            After the intervention, the experimental group of caregivers had significantly higher mean dental health literacy scores than the comparison group across all six dimensions: access to information (Mean diff. = 3.45, 95% CI: 1.95 to 4.93, p <0.001), knowledge and understanding (Mean diff. = 2.42, 95% CI: 1.98 to 2.82, p <0.001), communication (Mean diff. = 4.39, 95% CI: 2.48 to 6.28, p <0.001), decision-making (Mean diff. = 1.76, 95% CI: 1.16 to 2.46, p <0.001), self-management (Mean diff. = 1.76, 95% CI: 1.55 to 2.98, p = 0.002), and media literacy (Mean diff. = 1.32, 95% CI: 1.06 to 2.58, p = 0.019). Their scores were also significantly higher than before the intervention within the caregiver group across all six dimensions: access to information (Mean diff. = 2.76, 95% CI: 1.75 to 3.78, p <0.001), knowledge and understanding (Mean diff. = 1.41, 95% CI: 1.20 to 1.62, p <0.001), communication (Mean diff. = 2.74, 95% CI: 1.59 to 3.88, p <0.001), decision-making (Mean diff. = 2.76, 95% CI: 1.46 to 4.06, p <0.001), self-management (Mean diff. = 2.09, 95% CI: 1.21 to 2.97, p <0.001), and media literacy (Mean diff. = 1.61, 95% CI: 1.07 to 2.53, p <0.001). The mean gingivitis prevention behavior score of the caregivers in the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the comparison group (Mean diff. = 8.38, 95% CI: 6.55 to 10.21, p <0.001) and higher than before the intervention within the caregiver group (Mean diff. = 8.62, 95% CI: 6.97 to 10.27, p <0.001). The mean dental plaque score of the older adults in the experimental group was significantly lower than that of the comparison group (Mean diff. = 1.59, 95% CI: 1.19 to 1.98, p <0.001) and lower than before the intervention within the older adult group (Mean diff. = 2.11, 95% CI: 1.72 to 2.52, p <0.001), whereas the comparison group showed no improvement in any outcome variable.