The views of dentists, nurses and nutritionists on the association between diabetes and periodontal disease: a qualitative study in a Latino community.
OBJECTIVE
To interview health professionals in a Latino community about the association between diabetes and periodontitis, and provide a basis to develop interventions for them to promote oral health and good glycemic control among patients with diabetes.


METHODS
Five dentists, seven nurses and two nutritionists were interviewed about their practices relevant to oral health and diabetes, knowledge about the association, beliefs about Latinos, recommendations on reaching others in their fields, and barriers. The interviews were audiotaped, transcribed, and analyzed qualitatively.


RESULTS
Professionals identified policy, community and practice barriers for promoting diabetic control and oral health.


CONCLUSIONS
Producing a resource list, cross-educating professionals about diabetes and oral health, training professionals to better serve Latino patients, developing appropriate protocols for each profession regarding the association between diabetes and periodontitis, and educating the community about diabetic control, oral health and disease prevention were identified as potential strategies to improve oral health among Latino persons with diabetes.
Koerber
Anne
A
Department of Pediatric Dentistry, m/c 850, College of Dentistry, University of Illinois at Chicago, 801 S. Paulina St., Chicago, IL 60612, USA. akoerber@uic.edu
Peters
Karen E
KE
Kaste
Linda M
LM
Lopez
Esther
E
Noorullah
Khatija
K
Torres
Izadora
I
Crawford
John M
JM
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003815:Dentists / Q000523:psychology*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007087:Illinois; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008484:Medicaid; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000523:psychology*; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000150:complications*