title: Diabetes-related knowledge and sources of information among periodontal patients: is there a role for dental hygienists?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although there is a bidirectional relationship between periodontal disease and diabetes, little is known about the diabetes-related knowledge of periodontal patients. This study examines what patients with periodontal disease know about diabetes and its association with periodontitis. It also examines their sources of diabetes-related information.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients (n=111) with or at risk for diabetes who were receiving care at a university-based periodontics and implant clinic completed a written survey assessing their socio-demographic characteristics, health-related activities, diabetes knowledge and sources of diabetes-related information. Survey results were summarized using descriptive statistics. Fisher's exact tests were used to compare patients who had and had not been diagnosed with diabetes according to responses on diabetes-related knowledge items and sources of diabetes information.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although respondents endorsed various diabetes-related information sources, including family and friends and health care providers, respondents demonstrated very limited knowledge about the diabetes and periodontal disease association. There were no statistically significant differences between patients who had, and had not been diagnosed with diabetes regarding their diabetes-related knowledge. As compared with patients not diagnosed with diabetes, patients with diabetes were significantly more likely to have learned about diabetes from a health care provider (p=0.05) and significantly less likely to have learned about it from friends or family (p=0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Periodontal patients need education about the periodontitis-diabetes relationship. Dental hygienists' regular and ongoing involvement with these patients and their primary role in the patients' periodontal care places them in an optimal position to provide this education.
authors.forename: Shiela M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Strauss
authors.forename: Geetika
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tuthill
authors.forename: Anya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brodsky
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rosedale
authors.forename: Ariana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bytyci
authors.forename: Inna
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Drayluk
authors.forename: Alisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Llambiri
authors.forename: Krystal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Savice
authors.forename: Stefanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Russell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D054626:Consumer Health Information; D003756:Dental Hygienists; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Dental hygienists; Diabetes mellitus; Educational assessment; Periodontal disease