Effect of an oral health education program for caregivers delivering oral hygiene care to residents in a long-term care facility

Abstract

A convenience sample of caregivers from a long term care facility (LTCF) located in rural Missouri participated in an educational program. Various oral health indices were gathered from LTCF residents before the program and one month later to evaluate the effects of the program. A pre and post-test design was used with caregivers to evaluate the knowledge of oral hygiene, the relationship of oral health to systemic diseases, and the delivery of oral care. The presentation addressed oral health and the relationship to systemic disease. Mouth care and associated armamentarium were discussed for performing oral care. Demographic information was summarized using descriptive statistics. Measurement of pre and post-test knowledge about oral health was analyzed using a two-tailed dependent t-test, with p < 0.05 selected for statistical significance.