Diabetes Educators' Knowledge, Opinions and Behaviors Regarding Periodontal Disease and Diabetes

Mary H. Lopes; Janet H. Southerland; John B. Buse; Robb M. Malone; Rebecca S. Wilder

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine certified diabetes educators' (CDE) knowledge, behaviors and opinions about periodontal disease and diabetes.

Methods: A 33 item questionnaire was distributed to CDEs who provide counseling and education services to patients with diabetes. Questions were open and closed–ended and Likert–scale. A total of 298 CDEs participated in the survey. Descriptive statistics were utilized.

Results: Most (62%) agreed that CDEs need to collaborate with dental professionals in disease management and 84% indicated interest in an oral health component being added to their continuing education. Only 20% felt confident in providing an oral health screening to their patients, while 51% discussed oral health with their patients and 64% said they have referred a patient to a dentist within the past year. Most (79%) have not received formal oral health education.

Conclusion: The findings indicate that CDEs are aware of and agree that there is a link between oral health and systemic health and that collaboration with the dental profession would be a positive outcome for their patients, as would oral health topics being added to their continuing education courses. By introducing inter–professional collaboration between dental professionals and CDEs, and adding an oral health component to CE courses, CDEs' ability to educate their patients regarding the oral/systemic link could improve.

Footnotes

Mary H. Lopes, RDH, MS was a graduate student in the Master of Science Degree Program in Dental Hygiene Education at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill School of Dentistry (UNC) at the time of this project. Janet H. Southerland, BA, BS, DDS, MPH, PhD was a former Clinical Associate Professor at the UNC School of Dentistry and is now Dean of the Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry. Dr. John Buse, MD, PhD is a Professor at UNC School of Medicine and is the past president of the American Diabetes Association. He is also the chair of the National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP), a joint program of the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Dr. Robb Malone, PharmD, CPP is an Associate Professor of Medicine and an Associate Professor at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy at UNC. Rebecca S. Wilder, RDH, MS is a Professor and Director of Graduate Dental Hygiene Education and the Director of Faculty Development at the UNC School of Dentistry.
This study supports the NDHRA priority area, Health Services Research: Determine the extent to which dental hygienists' working in collaborative practice settings with other health professionals or organizations improves the cost–effectiveness and quality of health care outcomes.