Analyzing Oral Health Knowledge, Attitude and Awareness among Diabetic Adults in the United States
Abstract
Manju Natarajan
Diabetes is a serious health issue as it leads to heart disease and other complications. The link between diabetes and oral disease is proven in many scholarly literatures. The bi-directional relationship between the two is well known among healthcare academia, and its professional community.
Purpose: The goal of this study is to understand how much of this awareness and knowledge has reached common people suffering from diabetes. Specifically, this study ventures to understand if the diabetics are aware of the oral disease complications and their attitude towards oral health. The results of this study could aid in developing health promotion programs targeting diabetics to positively influence their quality of life.
Methodology: Thirty (30) diabetics who are members of the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) in Massachusetts, USA were recruited through convenient sampling method. Responses to a series of questions relating to demographic, symptomatic, attitude, oral hygiene practices and awareness-level were gathered through a two-page questionnaire. Data analysis was done using statistical tools such as descriptive analysis, relative frequency measures and correlation analysis.
Results: 67% of the respondents were aware of the link between oral health and diabetes; 87% had positive attitude towards oral health; minimum of 73% had no oral symptoms; only 27% conformed to dentist recommended everyday oral hygiene practices; Correlation of oral hygiene practices and less symptomatic measure had an R value of 0.82.
Conclusion: A positive attitude towards oral health and above average awareness of the link between oral health and diabetes did not translate to regular oral hygiene practices. The correlation analysis between oral symptoms and oral hygiene practices showed that higher the number of oral hygiene practices, the lesser the number of symptoms this group had. Hence, reinforcing the practices of oral hygiene through diabetic intervention programs could improve the quality of life for diabetics.