title: Diabetes educators' knowledge, opinions and behaviors regarding periodontal disease and diabetes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine certified diabetes educators' (CDE) knowledge, behaviors and opinions about periodontal disease and diabetes.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 33 item questionnaire was distributed to CDEs who provide counseling and education services  to patients with diabetes. Questions were open and closed-ended and Likert-scale. A total of 298 CDEs participated in the survey. Descriptive statistics were utilized.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most (62%) agreed that CDEs need to collaborate with dental professionals in disease management  and 84% indicated interest in an oral health component being added to their continuing education. Only 20% felt confident in providing an oral health screening to their patients, while 51% discussed oral health with their patients and 64% said they have referred a patient to a dentist within  the past year. Most (79%) have not received formal oral health education.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings indicate that CDEs are aware of and agree that there is a link between oral health and systemic health and that collaboration with the dental profession would be a positive outcome  for their patients, as would oral health topics being added to their continuing education courses. By introducing inter-professional collaboration between dental professionals and CDEs, and adding an oral health component to CE courses, CDEs' ability to educate their patients regarding  the oral/systemic link could improve.
authors.affiliation: Master of Science Degree Program in Dental Hygiene Education, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill School of Dentistry, USA.
authors.forename: Mary H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.forename: Janet H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Southerland
authors.forename: John B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Buse
authors.forename: Robb M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Malone
authors.forename: Rebecca S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Wilder
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003815:Dentists; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus; D004046:Dietetics / Q000193:education; D004496:Education, Continuing; D004506:Education, Nursing; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006267:Health Education, Dental; D040441:Health Educators / Q000193:education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009726:Nurses; D009909:Oral Health; D010510:Periodontal Diseases; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires