Folk wisdom and social support for oral health care of diabetes mellitus patients, Bung Kla Hospital, Buengkan Province.

Abstract

          This quasi-experimental study aimed to investigate the result of using folk wisdom and social support for oral health care of diabetes mellitus patients who attended Bung Kla Hospital, Buengkan Province. The participants were 74 diabetes mellitus patients, each 37 in the experimental and the comparison groups. The experimental group received dental health care program for 6 weeks by implementing activities such as dyeing plaque sheets with Basella alba seeds, correct practice of brushing teeth and using herbal mouthwash. The program was consisted of VDO instruction about teeth brushing; private master, group discussion, demonstration, oral health care practice, stained plaque with a grain of Ceylon Spinach, the use of herbal mouthwash, home visit and the social support from researchers, dental health technicians and volunteers. Data were collected by interviewing and plaque index record. Data were analyzed as frequency, percentages, means and standard deviations. Estimated data for comparative scores were analyzed by pair t-test, Independent t-test and Mann-Whitney U test at 0.05 level of significance.

          The results revealed that after the experiment, the experimental group had the median score of knowledge of oral health care, attitude toward of oral care and oral care practices were significantly higher scores than those in the comparison group (p-value <0.001), The accumulation of dental plaque in the experimental group significantly decreased when compared to the comparison group (p-value <0.001).

          In conclusion, the oral health care program by applying folk wisdom and social support for oral health care of diabetes mellitus patients improved knowledge and understanding about oral health care by reduction of plaque. It may be possible to reduce the incidence of oral diseases in the future. The program seem to be used as a guideline for improving oral health care and well-being of diabetic patients.