The effect of awareness on the outcome of oral health performed by home care service providers.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlations amongst factors, such as knowledge, attitude, practice and oral health behaviour, in caregiver managers so as to improve the oral health of the dependent elderly.


METHODS
Data were collected from a sample of 102 caregiver managers from home care service providers using a questionnaire. The respondents were divided into two groups: the group who were aware of effective oral care (A group) and the group who were unaware of effective oral care (U group). The evaluations were frequency distribution tables followed by chi-squared tests of independence and Fisher's exact test.


RESULTS
Ninety percent of the respondents thought that dependent elderly needed to be provided with oral care and 77% had been trained in oral care. However, only 44% thought that they could provide appropriate oral care and only 52% had experienced its effect on oral health and general health. There was a significant difference in training by dental hygienists between the A group (36%) and the U group (11%). There was also a significant difference in learning of oral care skills.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggested a high oral care awareness amongst caregiver managers and an inadequate oral care training system. To improve oral health of the dependent elderly, theoretical teaching alone is not sufficient when providing oral health education and a positive contact with the dental team, especially dental hygienists, is an important factor which supports oral care provided by caregivers.
Shimoyama
Kazuhiro
K
Geriatric Oral Health Care Science, Department of Lifetime Oral Health Care Sciences, School of Oral Health Care Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan. k.shimoyama.gohc@tmd.ac.jp
Chiba
Yumi
Y
Suzuki
Yoriko
Y
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology*; D016321:Dental Care for Aged; D005260:Female; D006267:Health Education, Dental; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires