Educative intervention on oral/dental health in diabetic patients May-October 2008

Abstract

A quasi-experimental educative intervention study, without control group, and with a before-after design was carried out with 30 diabetic patients from the Chiqui Gómez Polyclinic who were treated at the Center for Education and Care of diabetic patients in Santa Clara from May to October 2008. The objective was to determine the effectiveness of an educative intervention on oral/dental health in diabetic patients, in order to improve their quality of life. The information gathered was obtained by interviews, observation and the analysis of the individual and family medical histories, both medical and stomatologic ones. The results showed that 56.6 percent of the patients were over 60 years of age, 66.6 percent were women, with 43.3 percent having a secondary educational level; 73.3 percent had previous knowledge of the fact that diabetics are more likely to suffer from oral infections, 36.7 percent knew the signs and symptoms of periodontal disease and 20 percent those that can appear in the diabetic patient without control or with a bad hygiene. After implementing the plan of educative activities it was concluded that the educative intervention was effective because it resulted in a significant increase in the knowledge on oral/dental health and its relation with diabetes. It is recommended the inclusion of the plan of educative activities in the program of diabetic education received by the patients attending the above mentioned institution.