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Care workers’ practices in oral healthcare for the elderly : Mediating role of elderly oral healthcare education and behavioral needs

  • Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
  • Abbr : J Korean Soc Dent Hyg
  • 2024, 24(1), pp.57-67
  • DOI : 10.13065/jksdh.20240007
  • Publisher : Korean Society of Dental Hygiene
  • Research Area : Medicine and Pharmacy > Dentistry
  • Received : January 24, 2024
  • Accepted : February 18, 2024
  • Published : February 28, 2024

문상은 1 양진주 2 최유진 3

1광주여자대학교 치위생학과, 광주여자대학교 대학원 치위생학과
2광주여자대학교 치위생학과, 전남대학교 치의학전문대학원 예방치과학교실
3광주여자대학교 대학원 치위생학과

Accredited

ABSTRACT

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the impact of care workers’ knowledge of elderly oral health, education on elderly oral healthcare and behavioral needs, awareness of elderly oral healthcare, and actual practices in elderly oral healthcare. Furthermore, it explores the mediating effects of elderly oral healthcare education and behavioral needs on the relationship between awareness and practice. Methods: Data were collected from October 11 to December 29, 2023, from 172 certified care workers employed in nursing hospitals and other workplaces. For analyzing the data, t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation, and hierarchical regression were conducted using SPSS Statistics 21.0. Results: Elderly oral health knowledge, education and behavioral needs, awareness, and practice were significantly higher among: those aged 51 years and older, female, primarily working in nursing hospitals, with a total career span of 10 years, higher job satisfaction, in organizations prioritizing elderly oral healthcare, and with superior education in elderly oral health. Elderly oral healthcare education and behavioral needs had partial mediating effects on the relationship between care workers’ awareness and practice of elderly oral healthcare. Conclusions: The current practices and challenges in care workers’ oral healthcare for the elderly will be analyzed, and recommendations and strategies for improving practices will be formulated.

Citation status

* References for papers published after 2023 are currently being built.