Nursing‐Led Oral Health Literacy Intervention and Changes in Dental Anxiety and Oral Health Behaviours Among Geriatric Patients With Dental Diseases: A Non‐Randomized One‐Group Pretest–Posttest Study
Abeer Ramadan Awade Gamaa, Mohamed Hussein Ramadan Atta, Mohamed Gamal Elsehrawy, Nesreen AbdelMonaem AbdelSataar AbouZeid, Naglaa Alsaied Mostafa AlfayomyABSTRACT
Aim
To assess within‐group changes in dental anxiety, oral health knowledge and oral health behaviours following an oral health literacy intervention among older adults with dental diseases.
Design
A non‐randomized one‐group pretest–posttest quasi‐experimental design.
Methods
A convenience sample of 50 older adults participated in seven educational sessions addressing oral health, oral hygiene, nutrition, regular dental attendance and strategies for managing dental anxiety. Data were collected using the Saint Louis University Mental Status Examination, a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Oral Health Knowledge Scale, the Short Dental Anxiety Inventory and an oral healthcare behaviours questionnaire.
Results
Following the intervention, participants had lower dental anxiety scores and higher oral health knowledge and oral health behaviour scores compared with baseline. Higher oral health knowledge was also associated with more favourable oral health behaviours.
Conclusion
Lower dental anxiety and higher oral health knowledge and oral health behaviour scores were observed following the oral health literacy intervention among older adults with dental diseases. Because the study used a non‐randomized single‐group design, the findings should be interpreted cautiously.
Implications for the Profession and/or Patient Care
Gerontological nurses can integrate oral health education and simple dental‐anxiety management strategies into routine care to support preventive oral health practices and engagement with dental services.
Impact
Dental anxiety and limited oral health knowledge can hinder preventive dental care in later life. Following the intervention, participants had lower dental anxiety scores and higher oral health knowledge and oral health behaviour scores compared with baseline. The findings may inform nursing care for older adults in outpatient, primary care, community and long‐term care settings.
Reporting Method
The study was reported in accordance with the Transparent Reporting of Evaluations with Nonrandomized Designs statement.
No Patient or Public Contribution
Participants contributed study data but were not involved in the design, analysis, interpretation or manuscript preparation.