Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene (한국치위생학회지)

Korean Society of Dental Hygiene (한국치위생학회)
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Care workers' practices in oral healthcare for the elderly : mediating role of elderly oral healthcare education and behavioral needs

요양보호사의 노인 구강건강관리 실천도 연구 : 노인 구강건강관리 교육과 행위 필요도의 매개효과

  • Sang-Eun Moon (Department of Dental Hygiene, Kwangju Women's University) ;
  • Jin-Ju Yang (Department of Dental Hygiene, Kwangju Women's University) ;
  • You-Jin Choi (Department of Dental Hygiene, Graduate School, Kwangju Women's University)
  • 문상은 (광주여자대학교 치위생학과) ;
  • 양진주 (광주여자대학교 치위생학과) ;
  • 최유진 (광주여자대학교 대학원 치위생학과)
  • Received : 2024.01.24
  • Accepted : 2024.02.18
  • Published : 2024.02.28
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Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the impact of care workers' knowledge of elderly oral health, education on elderly oral healthcare and behavioral needs, awareness of elderly oral healthcare, and actual practices in elderly oral healthcare. Furthermore, it explores the mediating effects of elderly oral healthcare education and behavioral needs on the relationship between awareness and practice. Methods: Data were collected from October 11 to December 29, 2023, from 172 certified care workers employed in nursing hospitals and other workplaces. For analyzing the data, t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson's correlation, and hierarchical regression were conducted using SPSS Statistics 21.0. Results: Elderly oral health knowledge, education and behavioral needs, awareness, and practice were significantly higher among: those aged 51 years and older, female, primarily working in nursing hospitals, with a total career span of 10 years, higher job satisfaction, in organizations prioritizing elderly oral healthcare, and with superior education in elderly oral health. Elderly oral healthcare education and behavioral needs had partial mediating effects on the relationship between care workers' awareness and practice of elderly oral healthcare. Conclusions: The current practices and challenges in care workers' oral healthcare for the elderly will be analyzed, and recommendations and strategies for improving practices will be formulated.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

본 연구결과는 2023학년도 광주여자대학교 대학혁신지원사업에 의하여 연구되었음.

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