title: An assessment of the oral health knowledge and recall after a dental talk amongst nurses working with elderly patients: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the oral health knowledge amongst nurses working with elderly people in a local hospital run by a Primary Care Trust before and after a dental training talk.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nursing staff working at Swanage Cottage Hospital completed a questionnaire designed to assess their knowledge of dental decay, periodontal disease, oral hygiene, denture care and palliative care. One month after receiving a dental talk, the questionnaire was redistributed to the participants. A t-test was used to compare the number of correct answers before and after the talk.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty members of the nursing staff completed the initial questionnaire and 14 completed it 1 month after the talk. Prior to the talk, of the 45 questions, the mean number of correct answers per member of staff was 23.95+/-3.83. One month after the talk this had risen by 25% to 34.9+/-3.83. This increase was statistically significant (p < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A dental talk to a group of nursing staff caring for elderly people in a local hospital produced a significant increase in the level of oral health care knowledge.
authors.affiliation: Corfe Mullen, Dorset, UK. mynorswallis@tiscali.co.uk
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mynors-Wallis
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Davis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002983:Clinical Competence; D005260:Female; D006267:Health Education, Dental / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires