Evaluation of an Oral Hygiene Education Program for Staff Providing Long-Term Care Services: A Mixed Methods Study

Shang-Jung Wu, Chun-Chieh Wang, Shu-Chen Kuo, Shwn-Huey Shieh and Yueh-Juen Hwu
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Shang-Jung Wu: Department of Nursing, Taichung Veterans General Hospital Puli Branch, Nantou 54552, Taiwan
Chun-Chieh Wang: Department of Internal Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital Puli Branch, Nantou 54552, Taiwan
Shu-Chen Kuo: Department of Eldercare, Central Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taichung 40601, Taiwan
Shwn-Huey Shieh: Department of Health Services Administration, China Medical University, Taichung 40447, Taiwan
Yueh-Juen Hwu: College of Nursing in the Central Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taichung 40601, Taiwan

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 12, 1-13

Abstract: Background: Oral hygiene is often neglected in clients receiving long-term care, suggesting that long-term care workers require formal oral hygiene education. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of oral hygiene education on long-term care workers. Methods: This study utilized a mixed methods design. Eighty long-term care workers were recruited for participation in the oral hygiene education program, which employed three teaching methods: narration with multimedia presentation, demonstration, and teach-back. The effect of the education program on the participants’ level of oral hygiene knowledge, attitudes, and skills was measured using a structured questionnaire that was administered both pre- and post-delivery of the education program. Three months later, all participants submitted a self-report of their oral hygiene skills, and six participants completed a telephone interview. Quantitative data were analyzed using paired t -tests, and qualitative data were manually analyzed and coded. Results: Scores of oral hygiene knowledge ( p < 0.001), attitudes ( p = 0.001), and oral cleaning daily frequency for clients ( p < 0.001), were significantly higher three months after undertaking the educational program. Conclusions: This preliminary study suggests that oral hygiene education may be effective in improving oral hygiene knowledge, attitudes, and skills among long-term care staff.

Keywords: oral health; oral hygiene; long-term care; concurrent triangulation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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