Oral Health Status, Knowledge, and Behaviours of People with Diabetes in Sydney, Australia

Prakash Poudel, Rhonda Griffiths, Amit Arora, Vincent W. Wong, Jeff R. Flack, George Barker and Ajesh George
Additional contact information
Prakash Poudel: Centre for Oral Health Outcomes and Research Translation (COHORT), Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia
Rhonda Griffiths: School of Nursing & Midwifery, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia
Amit Arora: School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW 2751, Australia
Vincent W. Wong: South Western Sydney Local Health District, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia
Jeff R. Flack: South Western Sydney Local Health District, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia
George Barker: Diabetes Education Service, Hornsby-Ku-ring-gai Hospital, Northern Sydney Local Health District, Hornsby, NSW 2077, Australia
Ajesh George: Centre for Oral Health Outcomes and Research Translation (COHORT), Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 7, 1-15

Abstract: This study assessed self-reported oral health status, knowledge, and behaviours of people living with diabetes along with barriers and facilitators in accessing dental care. A cross sectional survey of 260 patients from four public diabetes clinics in Sydney, Australia was undertaken using a 35-item questionnaire. Data were analysed using SPSS software with descriptive and logistic regression analyses. More than half (53.1%) of respondents reported having dental problems which negatively impacted their related quality of life. Less than half (45%) had adequate oral health knowledge. Only 10.8% reported receiving any oral health information in diabetes care settings, which had higher odds of demonstrating adequate oral health knowledge (AOR, 2.60; 95% CI, 1.06–6.34). Similarly, 62.7% reported seeing a dentist in the last 12 months. Having private health insurance (AOR, 3.70; 95% CI, 1.85–7.40) had higher odds of seeing a dentist in the past 12 months. Dental costs were a major contributor to avoiding or delaying dental visit. Patients living with diabetes have unmet oral health needs particularly around the awareness of its importance and access to affordable dental services. Diabetes care providers can play a crucial role in this area by promoting oral health to their patients.

Keywords: diabetes mellitus; oral health; oral health status; knowledge and behaviours; survey; diabetes care providers; public health; inclusive health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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