Cambio de actitud en cuidados bucodentales en una población de niños diabéticos tras la impartición de una charla formativa

Abstract

Abstract Objectives: The present work focused on the following objectives: (i) to determine the initial level of knowledge about hygiene techniques, diet, and other measures preventing oral diseases in a two group of patients; a group of patients with type 1diabetes mellitus (T1DM) from Madrid and Murcia, and a control group of patients also from Murcia; and (ii) in the case of patients from Murcia, to analyze the effectiveness of an educational talks related to cited preventive measures, establishing as well if there were significant differences between diabetic patients and controls. Materials and methods: An oral health survey consisting of 27 questions related to dietary habits, oral hygiene and the degree of knowledge and use of methods of caries prevention, such as fluoride and pit and fissure sealants was developed; 13 of these questions were established as index questions. 90 patients were asked to answer this survey. The 90 patients sample was formed by 30 patients with T1DM from Madrid, 30 patients with T1DM from Murcia and 30 control patients, non diabetic; all of them aged between 6 and 18 years old and there was a balance in gender and age proportions in all groups. An educational talk about oral health was given to all groups of patients and, in the case of patients from Murcia, 6 months later they were asked to answer a second survey like the initial. Acquisition of knowledge by patients during the talk was assessed through index valuation questions included on surveys, and Chi-square, McNemar-Bowker and T-Student tests were used for data analysis. Conclusions: Initially, patients with T1DM from Murcia participating in the study, showed a greater awareness in relation to adopt the recommended diet. On the other hand, a statistically significant trend to consume tap water was detected for patients with T1DM of Madrid, while the trend for patients from Murcia was to consume bottled water; for both, diabetics and controls. Data analysis after the educational talks about oral health shows an increase of knowledge on pit and fissure sealants, and a change of attitude towards the use of fluoride toothpaste, floss and mouthwash, which increases specially for teenager patients with T1DM. This study, in conclusion, highlights the positive impact of including oral health formative talks into the diabetes education of these patients.