A qualitative study of oral health knowledge among African Americans

Knowledge, attitudes and practices among patients with end-stage kidney disease towards hyperkalaemia management in Shenzhen, China: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) among patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) towards hyperkalaemia.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional study.

SETTING

This study was conducted between September and November 2023 at the Department of Nephrology, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital and the Second Affiliated Hospital of Southern University of Science and Technology.

PARTICIPANTS

The study included 568 patients with ESKD who were undergoing haemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis or both, recruited through convenience sampling.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

This study was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire, which assessed participants' KAP towards hyperkalaemia management. The questionnaire comprised four sections: demographic information, knowledge (13 items), attitudes (9 items) and practices (9 items), with responses evaluated using a 5-point Likert scale. A cut-off value of 70% of the total score was applied, with thresholds for sufficient knowledge, favourable attitudes and proactive practices set at 6.3, 31.5 and 31.5 points, respectively. The higher the KAP scores, the better the levels of knowledge, attitude and practice. A structural equation model (SEM) was constructed to analyse the effects of demographic characteristics on KAP dimensions. Path coefficients (standardised estimates) were used to assess the strength of relationships between variables, with coefficients>0.2 generally considered moderate effects and >0.5 strong effects.

RESULTS

A total of 568 participants were enrolled in this study, including 369 (64.69%) males, and 249 (43.84%) have been diagnosed with ESKD for more than 5 years. The median (IQR) KAP scores of the participants were 9 (3-9) (possible range: 0-9), 34 (24-45) (possible range: 9-45) and 32 (10-45) (possible range: 9-45), respectively. SEM demonstrated that the frequency of dialysis had direct effects on knowledge (coefficient=0.113, p=0.039), education had direct effects on attitudes (coefficient=0.257, p<0.001), knowledge had direct effects on practices (coefficient=-0.130, p=0.016), attitudes had direct effects on practices (coefficient=0.549, p<0.001) and education had direct effects on practices (coefficient=0.112, p=0.007).

CONCLUSION

Patients with ESKD enrolled in this study have sufficient knowledge, favourable attitudes and proactive practices towards the hyperkalaemia. Nevertheless, it is still recommended to enhance clinical practice in hyperkalaemia management among patients with ESKD by tailoring education for those with lower education levels, emphasising the importance of regular dialysis and implementing strategies to bridge the knowledge-practice gap.

Third molar-related knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and medical history of 904 Chinese adults: a cross-sectional survey

This study investigated the perceptions and medical history of third molars (M3s) and assessed the prevalence of visible M3s (V-M3s) among 904 Chinese adults. The enrolled participants were interviewed to complete a structural questionnaire focused on sociodemographic information and their understanding of, attitudes toward, behaviors regarding, and medical history with respect to M3s. In addition, the number of V-M3s in the cohort was determined by oral examination. Logistic regression analysis was performed to explore the association between individuals' sociodemographic characteristics and their perception of M3s or the presence of V-M3s. The Chi-square test was used to compare the actions taken against symptomatic M3s and the corresponding outcomes among different groups divided according to respondents' sociodemographic factors. In total, 904 completed questionnaires were gathered and analyzed. Nearly half (43.9%) of the respondents knew nothing about M3s, and only 12.7% provided correct answers to all the questions asked. Male sex, older age, occupation involving physical labor, and no previous dental experience were active factors in unawareness of M3s. Male sex was also significantly associated with the presence of at least one V-M3 and negative behavior about symptomatic M3s. In terms of medical history, 192 participants reported having had at least one M3 extracted (438 in total), and 72.6% of the M3s were removed due to the presence of related symptoms or pathologies. In conclusion, the population investigated had a shortage of knowledge about M3s and adopted negative attitudes and actions about M3-related problems.

Changes in Prevalence Over Time and Determinants of Dental Care Visits Amongst Tennessee Seniors

INTRODUCTION

Rates of dental visits of older adults in the United States, particularly in Tennessee, are rapidly increasing, coupled with the growing complexity of older adults' dental treatment. Notably, increased dental visits help detect and treat dental disease and offer opportunities for preventive care. This longitudinal study aimed to examine the prevalence and determinants of dental care visits amongst Tennessee seniors.

METHODS

This observational study combined multiple cross-sectional studies. Five even years of Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance system data were used, including 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2018. Our data were limited to Tennessee seniors (60 years or older). Weighting was conducted to account for the complex sampling design. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the factors associated with dental clinic visits. A P value < .05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

The current study comprised 5362 Tennessee seniors. Older individuals visiting dental clinics within 1 year gradually decreased from 76.5% in 2010 to 71.2% in 2018. The majority of participants were female (51.7%), White (81.3%), and located in Middle Tennessee (43.5%). Logistic regression showed that those more likely to visit dentists or dental clinics included females (odds ratio [OR], 1.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1-1.8), never-smokers and former smokers (OR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.5-3.4), individuals with some college education (OR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.1-2.4), college graduates (OR, 2.7; 95% CI, 1.8-4.1), and those with high incomes (eg, >$50,000; OR, 5.7; 95% CI, 3.7-8.7). Conversely, Black participants (OR, 0.6; 95% CI, 0.4-0.8), participants with fair/poor health (OR, 0.7; 95% CI, 0.5-0.8), and those who have never married (OR, 0.5; 95% CI, 0.3-0.8) were less likely to report dental visits.

CONCLUSIONS

Rates of Tennessee seniors visiting dental clinics within 1 year have gradually decreased from 76.5% in 2010 to 71.2% in 2018. Several factors were associated with seniors seeking dental treatment. Effective interventions to improve dental visits should take the identified factors into account.