title: The Oral Health Needs of Wisconsin Farmers and the Need for Patient Activation: A Pilot Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to determine the level of oral health need of Wisconsin farmers based on sociodemographic variables, perceived oral health, and actual oral health, and to evaluate the effectiveness of a dental hygiene patient activation intervention.
  
  
  METHODS
  Oral health screenings were administered by calibrated dental hygienists to 60 Wisconsin farmers attending the 2016 Wisconsin Farm Technology Days. Study participants self-administered the Oral Health Inventory Profile-14 survey and participated in an Adult Basic Screening Survey. Validity and reliability of both instruments have been established in previous studies. A follow-up phone call for Wisconsin farmers with a moderate- to high-risk oral health condition determined study participants followed the dental hygiene recommendations signified if study participants followed the dental hygiene recommendations and if patient activation had been achieved.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Study participants represented Wisconsin farmers (N = 60; n = 32 men, n = 28 women) with an average age range between 50 and 60 years old. The Oral Health Impact Profile-14 survey results indicated that this group of Wisconsin farmers did not perceive themselves to have an oral health problem. The Adult Basic Screening Survey results also indicated that the majority of study participants did not currently have active oral disease. There were 32% (n = 19) who qualified for follow-up phone call, with 15% (n = 3) seeking oral health care based on the dental hygiene recommendation. Significant associations between sociodemographic variables and actual oral health were not found, and the null hypotheses were not rejected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings suggest that this group of Wisconsin farmers is receiving regular oral health care and patient activation despite literature suggesting that farmers and rural individuals might face unique barriers to health and oral health care.
authors.affiliation: a Appleton , Wisconsin , USA.
authors.forename: Kelly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schroeder
authors.affiliation: b Department of Dental Hygiene, Division of Graduate Studies , Idaho State University , Pocatello , Idaho , USA.
authors.forename: JoAnn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gurenlian
authors.affiliation: b Department of Dental Hygiene, Division of Graduate Studies , Idaho State University , Pocatello , Idaho , USA.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Portillo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003753:Dental Health Surveys; D000067565:Farmers / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009909:Oral Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010358:Patient Participation; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014922:Wisconsin; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Farmer; oral health; patient activation; public health; rural health