Assessing oral health literacy of university nursing students: A cross-sectional exploratory study

Oral health literacy and behaviors among Chinese university students: a comparative study of medical and non-medical students

BACKGROUND

Oral health literacy (OHL) plays a crucial role in improving oral health outcomes. Due to their academic background, medical students are presumed to have higher OHL levels than students in other disciplines. However, few studies have directly compared OHL and oral health behaviors between medical and non-medical students.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study recruited undergraduate students from seven universities in Shandong, China. A total of 2,695 students completed an online survey between August and September 2024. The questionnaire collected information on demographic characteristics, OHL, and oral health-related behaviors. OHL was measured using the validated Chinese version of the short-form Dental Health Literacy Scale (HeLD-14). Data were analyzed using t-tests, chi-square tests, and mediation analysis conducted with the PROCESS macro in SPSS.

RESULTS

Among the participants, 1,572 (58.3%) were medical students. Medical students scored significantly higher on the HeLD-14 total score than non-medical students (56.96 ± 11.04 vs. 54.59 ± 11.24, P < 0.001), with consistently higher scores across all dimensions. In terms of oral health behaviors, medical students were more likely to brush after late-night snacks, use fluoride toothpaste, and floss regularly compared to non-medical students (all P < 0.05). Mediation analysis showed that OHL partially mediated the relationship between academic major and these oral health behaviors.

CONCLUSION

Medical students exhibit higher OHL and healthier oral health behaviors compared to non-medical students. Enhancing OHL among non-medical students may foster better oral health behaviors and improve overall oral health outcomes.

How Nurses' Interventions Promote Health Literacy in Patients With Non-Communicable Diseases: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

More than one-third of all diseases in the world are non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and poorer health outcomes are linked to low health literacy (HL), in which nurses have a significant role to play. Various studies have confirmed that there is an association between HL and NCDs. However, less is known about how nurses can intervene in the development of HL in patients with NCDs. This systematic review was carried out to explore, in a comprehensive way, nursing interventions that could promote HL in patients with NCDs.

METHODS

A systematic review (PROSPERO registration number: CRD370625) was carried out on five databases (PubMed MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus, ScienceDirect and JSTOR). Sequences that provided information for our study topic were retrieved and analysed following PRISMA guidelines for systematic reviews.

RESULTS

In total, 1915 titles and abstracts were screened, 71 articles were assessed in full-text screening and 25 studies were included in the review. Around 23 different nurse-led intervention strategies were identified, but only 11 major ones were explored in detail. The majority of them prioritised communication (teach-back), self-management programs, counselling and education. In the majority of the trials, a significant positive outcome was discovered. Both nurses and patients needed to devote time and attention to the complex nurse-led HL interventions.

CONCLUSION

Nurses' HL interventions have shown promise in promoting HL and other health outcomes in people with NCDs, but they need to be tailored to fit specific patients. Nursing programs should include more than just patient teaching strategies.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Nurses' HL efforts hold potential for enhancing HL in NCD patients, provided they are customised to individual needs.

Evaluating pre-and post-oral health literacy of undergraduate nursing students on an oral-systemic health learning intervention

INTRODUCTION

Oral health is significantly linked with systemic health. Nurses play a crucial role in patient education. Improving oral health literacy in nursing students can pave the way for the seamless integration of oral health into nursing practice.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate an interprofessional co-designed oral-systemic health learning intervention using a pre-and-post study design that measured oral health literacy levels among Year 2 undergraduate nursing students.

METHODS

Evaluation was measured using the validated Comprehensive Measure of Oral Health Knowledge questionnaire before and after the semester-long education intervention. Data were analyzed using independent and paired t-tests and an analysis of variance one-way analysis of variance.

RESULTS

A total of 78 out of 164 students (82% female, 42% aged 21-24, and 52% speaking English as a first language) participated in the pre- and post-study surveys. Statistically significant improvement was noted in pre-and-post total oral health literacy scores (Pre 14.92 [3.85] vs.. Post 15.85 [3.74], p = 0.031). Students showed the highest proficiency in the domain of oral disease prevention, while oral cancer knowledge was the least mastered domain. Those without English as their first language and those with secondary education as the highest qualification showed the greatest improvement in oral health literacy scores post-intervention.

CONCLUSIONS

This study highlights the efficacy of an interprofessional co-designed oral-systemic educational intervention in increasing oral health literacy among undergraduate nursing students. This intervention marks a preliminary step towards integrating oral health into future nursing practice. Further research is warranted to explore the enduring impact of these interventions on their future clinical endeavors.

Oral hygiene self-care: Concept analysis for the development of a new nursing diagnosis

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to analyze the concept of oral hygiene self-care and develop a new problem-focused nursing diagnosis (ND) based on the NANDA-I terminology.

METHOD

A concept analysis was performed based on the Walker and Avant framework, including a scoping review phase according to the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines. Searches were performed in PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Scopus, Web of Science, Virtual Health Library, and specific gray literature databases. The development of the diagnostic structure followed the NANDA-I guidelines with a focus on Orem's self-care theory.

RESULTS

Including 51 studies, the analysis facilitated the formulation of attributes, antecedents, and consequences of oral hygiene self-care. The ND "Oral hygiene self-care deficit" was created and included 17 defining characteristics, 9 related factors, 5 associated conditions, and 5 high-risk populations. Two cases were constructed to illustrate the use of key terms.

CONCLUSIONS

The conceptual analysis provided insight into the concept of oral hygiene self-care and supported the structure of a new ND.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE

This study contributes to the implementation of the nursing process by focusing on the identification of individuals with oral hygiene self-care deficit. It will facilitate the promotion of oral health, thereby impacting the individual's quality of life. In addition, it will aid in the development of public policy for the prevention of oral diseases.

Aspiration pneumonia in nursing literature-a mapping review

Introduction

Aspiration pneumonia (AP) is an infection of the lungs caused by inhalation of material. The reported incidences vary across literature and clinical populations and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Management of AP is best carried out by a multidisciplinary team.

Methods

This aim of this review was to collate and describe the available evidence on AP to develop a greater understanding of the concept of AP as it is represented in the nursing literature. As a collaborative team, we undertook the six stages of a systematic mapping review. We searched for the term aspiration pneumonia in 200 peer reviewed nursing journals across 10 databases, over a ten-year period (2013-2023).

Results

In this review, 293 papers were coded. Dysphagia, oral health and tube feeding emerged as the most frequent risk factors for AP, and the most reported factors for preventing this condition. Mortality was the most commonly described consequence of AP, followed by hospitalisations and morbidity. Multiple management approaches were reported including dysphagia assessment, risk evaluation, oral care and texture modification of food and fluids. The role of nurses and interprofessional collaborations were described.

Discussion

Despite limited evidence related to the topic of AP in the nursing literature, the complexity of the causes, prevention, management and consequences of AP emerged. Certain factors, such as dysphagia, oral health, and tube feeding, were described under prevention, cause and management of AP. The importance of multidisciplinary approach in the management and prevention of AP was presented.

Development and psychometric testing of the attitude and confidence with oral healthcare among nursing students (ACORN) scale

AIM

To develop and test the psychometric properties of the attitude and confidence with oral healthcare among nursing students (ACORN) scale.

BACKGROUND

Delivering oral healthcare is an essential component of care, which is often overlooked and omitted. A nurse's attitude or confidence may influence how oral healthcare is prioritised. To date, there are no scales that assess both attitude and confidence for nurses when undertaking oral healthcare and thus the ACORN scale was developed.

METHODS

The 24-item scale was developed following a three-stage process, which included concept identification and item construction, pilot testing, factorial and discriminant validity and reliability testing. The survey was distributed to nursing students to assess their attitude and confidence in providing oral healthcare. This study has been registered with the Registry of Efficacy and Effectiveness Studies (12940.1v1).

RESULTS

Using a before and after intervention survey design, the psychometric properties of the ACORN scale were examined with data collected from two student groups. Exploratory Factor Analysis yielded a two-factor structure, which was verified using Confirmatory Factor Analysis. Importantly, aggregated scale scores were able to detect differences in attitude and confidence following oral healthcare education (4.95 versus 5.66, p < 0.01). The Cronbach's alpha for the 24-item scale was 0.94.

CONCLUSION

The ACORN scale is a valid and reliable tool that can be used to assess differences in attitude and confidence of students following oral health education. Further research is recommended to test the utility of this scale using other educational interventions with different groups of healthcare providers.

Assessment of the oral health literacy and oral health behaviors among nurses in China: a cross-sectional study

PURPOSE

Oral health is important for general health; nurses are expected to possess good oral health awareness and work together for public oral health promotion. The purpose of this study is to investigate oral health literacy (OHL)and oral health behaviors of nurses, and explore the association between oral health literacy with demographic variables and oral health behaviors.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study in a tertiary hospital was conducted using a short-form Health Literacy in Dentistry-14 (HeLD-14) and a 16-items oral health behaviors questionnaire. Information about the subjects' demographic details including age, gender, place of residence, marital status, marital status, education level, monthly household income, working experience, etc. were collected. Independent sample t- test, One- way ANOVA, and multivariable regression were used to identify the association of oral health literacy with demographic variables and oral health behaviors.

RESULTS

A total number of 317 nursing nurses participated in the survey, with a mean OHL score of 36.72, SD10.531, 21.8% were categorized as good, 34.1% medium and 44.2% poor oral health literacy; monthly household income, self-rated oral health, brushing time, use of fluoride toothpaste, and regular oral examination were signficantly associated with OHL scores.

CONCLUSION

The overall oral health literacy of the nurse population is at a moderate to low level. These findings may help to map and design an oral health education intervention to improve oral health literacy amongst nurses, especially nurses with low monthly household income and poor self-assessed oral health status. Nursing administrators and nursing educators should pay more attention to the oral health status of the nurse population.

Knowledge and practices of female students at university of Kara regarding sexually transmitted infections in Togo, 2021

A good knowledge of sexually transmitted infections (STI) in female students is an important element in the prevention of STI transmission. The objective of this study is to describe the level of knowledge and practices on STI among female students at the University of Kara. A cross-sectional study was conducted at the University of Kara from July to September 2021. Data were collected using a standard, digitalised, selfadministered questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis was used to describe factors associated with the level of knowledge of STIs. A total of 1,055 female students with a median age of 21 years (interquartile range: 20-24) participated in the study. More than one-third (33.7%) of the students had good knowledge of STI. Having already been tested for HIV (aOR=3.25; 95% CI 2.36-4.52), having already had sex (aOR=1.56; 95% CI 1.10-2.24) and the level of education (AOR=3.46; 95% CI 2.10-5.85) were significantly associated with good STIs knowledge. Among the 723 female students (68.5%) who already had sex, 32.5% reported inconsistent use of condoms during sexual intercourse and 18.9% reported having multiple sexual partners. The results of this study highlight the importance of intensifying STIs prevention efforts (awareness, screening, and vaccination) among female students at the University of Kara.

Diabetes and Oral Health: Summary of Current Scientific Evidence for Why Transdisciplinary Collaboration Is Needed

This Perspective provides a brief summary of the scientific evidence for the often two-way links between hyperglycemia, including manifest diabetes mellitus (DM), and oral health. It delivers in a nutshell examples of current scientific evidence for the following oral manifestations of hyperglycemia, along with any available evidence for effect in the opposite direction: periodontal diseases, caries/periapical periodontitis, tooth loss, peri-implantitis, dry mouth (xerostomia/hyposalivation), dysbiosis in the oral microbiome, candidiasis, taste disturbances, burning mouth syndrome, cancer, traumatic ulcers, infections of oral wounds, delayed wound healing, melanin pigmentation, fissured tongue, benign migratory glossitis (geographic tongue), temporomandibular disorders, and osteonecrosis of the jaw. Evidence for effects on quality of life will also be reported. This condensed overview delivers the rationale and sets the stage for the urgent need for delivery of oral and general health care in patient-centered transdisciplinary collaboration for early detection and management of both hyperglycemia and oral diseases to improve quality of life.