Oral Health Promotion and Fundamental of Care: an Evidence-based Practice Educational Program

Detailed Summary

Introduction: Oral health significantly impacts daily life, affecting communication, nutrition, emotional expression, self-esteem, and overall quality of life. Poor oral health is associated with conditions ranging from caries and periodontal disease to systemic issues such as diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, and increased mortality. Background and Rationale: Oral frailty, a concept originating in Japan in 2013, highlights the deterioration of oral function due to aging, potentially leading to malnutrition and systemic health impacts. The 2017 Global Burden of Disease Study emphasized oral health as an ongoing global challenge, identifying caries, severe periodontitis, and edentulism as prevalent issues. Preventable oral diseases contribute significantly to health disparities and systemic illnesses. Aims: Primary: To evaluate the impact of an educational intervention to implement evidence-based guidelines for oral health care in adult inpatients. Secondary: To assess the concordance between different assessment tools and the improvement in knowledge of healthcare workers following training. Methods: Study Design: A before-and-after interventional study comparing pre- and post-educational intervention implementation cohorts. Setting: Medical Department, Maggiore della Carità Hospital, Novara, Italy. Eligibility: Adults aged ≥18 years admitted for inpatient care who consent to participate. Outcomes: Improvements in oral health outcomes as assessed by the OHAT tool and secondary metrics such as knowledge improvement in healthcare staff. Intervention: Training Sessions: Healthcare workers receive education on oral health guidelines, including practical and simulation-based activities. Implementation: Adoption of evidence-based practices for oral health care. Evaluation Phases: Phase 1 (Baseline): Assessment of oral health in patients using OHAT and a structured evaluation protocol. Phase 2 (Intervention): Educational sessions for healthcare workers. Phase 3 (Post-Implementation): Follow-up assessments using the same tools and methods as Phase 1. Data Analysis: Statistical methods include descriptive analysis, repeated measures models, and pre-post intervention comparisons. A significance level of 0.05 will be applied. Sample Size: A minimum of 48 participants (24 per cohort) is required, based on a hypothesised effect size of 0.5 with 80% power and a significance level of 0.05. Ethical Considerations: The protocol will be submitted for ethical approval. Data will be anonymised and handled per EU Regulation 2016/679 (GDPR). Dissemination of Results: Findings will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at conferences, maintaining participant confidentiality.

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