title: Oral health literacy and information sources among adults in Tehran, Iran.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess oral health literacy level and oral health information of Iranian adults in Tehran, and to determine the factors related to oral health literacy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional population study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A random sample of 1,031 adults in Tehran, Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  Oral health literacy was measured using an oral health adult literacy questionnaire (OHL-AQ). Variation in use of information sources by socio-economic and demographic background was estimated by odds ratios. A multiple linear regression model served to determine predictor factors of OHL-AQ scores controlling for characteristics of the subjects and number of information sources.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean OHL-AQ score was 10.5 (sd 3.0). Women (p < 0.001), younger (p < 0.001), and better educated participants (p < 0.001) had higher OHL-AQ scores. The most common sources of oral health information were dentists (52.6%), and TV/Radio (49.5%). According to the regression model, females (p = 0.001), high educational level (p < 0.001), and use of multiple information sources (two sources p = 0.01, three sources or more p = 0.002) were the main predictor factors of OHL-AQ scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The average oral health literacy level of Iranian adults was low. Disseminating evidence-based oral health care information from multiple sources including TV/radio, dentists, and other health professionals in different settings should improve public oral health literacy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Oral Health, School of Dentistry, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: M M Naghibi
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Sistani
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yazdani
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Virtanen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pakdaman
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Murtomaa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D054626:Consumer Health Information; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D057220:Health Literacy; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination; D007492:Iran; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009909:Oral Health; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult