Oral health Knowledge of Diabetic Patients before and after the Education Package

Statement of the Problem: Oral health education may play an important role in the prevention of oral complications of diabetes mellitus. Different methods have been used to present these educations. Purpose: This study investigated the efficacy of oral health education package to increase knowledge of diabetic patients about oral health in Iran. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, ۳۷۱ diabetic patients (۱۸۷ individuals in intervention and ۱۸۴ ones in control group) were selected. Knowledge of control and case groups was evaluated using a questionnaire at the baseline. The questions were about oral manifestations of diabetes and associated concerns. Then an educational package about that manifestation and complications was provided for the intervention group. No education was given to the control patients. After one month knowledge of both groups was measured again by the same questionnaire. The knowledge score variations between the two groups before and after education package delivery were statistically analyzed by repeated measures ANOVA. Results: In the intervention group, the mean knowledge scores at baseline after education were ۴.۱۰۷ (SD = ۱.۴۱۴) and ۴.۷۸۶ (SD = ۱.۵۰۵), respectively. In the control group, the mean scores of patients at the beginning of the study and after ۱ month were ۴.۶۰۹ (SD = ۱.۲۱۴) and ۴.۷۳۴ (SD = ۱.۲۵۹), respectively. No significant differences were observed between the two groups (P=۰.۰۷۷). Conclusion: The results showed that educational package had limited effect on increasing the diabetic patients’ knowledge regarding oral complications. Another method of education might be more effective than this method.