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Updated: Aug 6, 2026

Oral Health Assessment by Lay Personnel for Older Adults
Published on: February 2, 2020
Oral health literacy and its related factors among community-dwelling older adults: a mixed-methods study
Yiqing Liang1, Jingjing Wang1, Peng Gao2
1Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China.
Objective:
This study examined oral health literacy (OHL) and its related factors among community-dwelling older adults.
Methods:
A mixed-methods design was employed. Community-dwelling older adults from Zhenjiang, China, were recruited between September and November 2021. Validated scales were used to assess oral health knowledge, oral health beliefs, OHL, self-efficacy, and oral health behaviors. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 participants. Data integration adopted a synchronous two-way approach.
Results:
A total of 445 seniors completed the quantitative survey. Factors associated with OHL included dental cleaning, oral health behaviors, oral health knowledge and beliefs, educational attainment (high school or university level), self-efficacy, and difficulties in communicating with dentists. Four themes were identified from the qualitative study. Data integration revealed that oral health demands, knowledge, behaviors, beliefs, educational level, self-efficacy, and patient-dentist relationships were associated with OHL levels.
Conclusion:
Community-dwelling older adults exhibited moderate OHL associated with multiple factors. Future interventions should target oral health knowledge, beliefs, behaviors, and self-efficacy to enhance OHL in this population.
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