Improvement of knowledge, attitude, and behavior about oral health in a population of alcohol addicted persons

Abstract

Aims: To improve knowledge, attitude, and behavior about oral health and oral cancer prevention in a population of alcohol-addicted persons involved in a residential rehabilitation program in Italy. Methods: A questionnaire was administered to obtain socioeconomic and oral risk factors data, and a complete dental examination was performed. A lecture on oral health risk factors and healthy behaviors was delivered. A pre-post test questionnaire was used to assess the short-term effectiveness of the intervention. Long-term effectiveness was assessed by a follow-up interview at 1 year from the intervention. The independent effect of several covariates on oral health at baseline and on the outcome of the intervention was evaluated. Results: Seventy-six individuals from the residential alcohol rehabilitation program participated in our study. About half had been addicted to alcohol for more than 10 years; 81.6% smoked at the time of survey; 31.0% declared that they never used toothbrushes or that they brushed less than once/day. We found an improvement of 25.0% in exact answers between the pre-post test questionnaire. At 1 year from the intervention, the 42 participants who reached follow up showed a great improvement in knowledge and attitude towards oral health. In particular, toothbrushing had become a daily routine after every meal for 67.1% of participants. Conclusions: Education of alcohol-dependent individuals in a rehabilitation setting may contribute to their attention to oral health and willingness to change habits. © The Author 2008. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Medical Council on Alcohol. All rights reserved.