The Effect of a Training Program on Oral Health and Behavior Change in Asthma Patients.
BACKGROUND
Asthma is a chronic disease which is prevalent throughout the world. Physical problems such as deterioration in oral health, which may occur due to the triggering factors of asthma as well as the ineffective use of asthma medicine, seem to affect the daily lives of asthma patients. Therefore, it is important to protect oral health and promote positive behavior changes in asthma patients in order to achieve effective treatment and asthma control.


OBJECTIVE
The present study aimed to determine the effects of a training program provided for asthma patients on oral health, inhaler use skills, and behavior change.


METHODS
Controlled experimental study.


METHODS
A total of 124 asthma patients were included in the study. Of the patients, 62 were assigned to the experimental group and the other 62 were assigned to the control group. Data were collected using the patient identification form, the oral assessment guide, the inhaler use skill form, and the evaluation form for behavior change over time. The experimental group received training provided by the researchers on the first meeting and one month later. Written and visual training material were used. Both groups were subject to a final evaluation which was conducted 4 months after their first meeting.


RESULTS
It was determined that the oral assessment guide scores (p<0.01) and inhaler use skills of the experimental group improved significantly after the training compared to the control group (p<0.01). In addition, it was observed that the number of patients in the experimental group who quit smoking (p<0.05), used their medicine (p<0.01) and brushed their teeth on a regular basis (p<0.01), and washed their mouth after inhaler use significantly increased in the experimental group after training compared to the control group (p<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The study demonstrated that the training provided for asthma patients improved oral health and promoted inhaler use skills and was partially effective in promoting positive asthma-related behavior change.
Department of Internal Diseases Nursing, Cumhuriyet University School of Suşehri Health High, Sivas, Turkey.
Feride Taşkın
FT
Yılmaz
Department of Internal Diseases Nursing, Celal Bayar University School of Nursing High, Manisa, Turkey.
Sezgi
S
Çınar
Department of Pulmonology, Süreyyapaşa Chest Disease and Thoracic Surgery Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
Adnan
A
Yılmaz
Department of Internal Diseases Nursing, Bezmialem Vakıf University School of Health Sciences, İstanbul, Turkey.
Azime Karakoç
AK
Kumsar
Asthma; behavior change; inhaler use skill; oral health; training