ABSTRACT
Objectives@#This study addressed longstanding issues in Korea’s public health dentist system by defining and standardizing job duties. A practical job description was drafted based on job analysis results to promote work efficiency and lay the groundwork for future educational programs. @*Methods@#The job description elements were selected and drafted based on previous studies.These drafts were revised and refined with expert panel validation. @*Results@#The main job duties of public health dentists encompass community oral health, dental practice, public oral health research, and special oral health, tailored for institutions such as health sub-centers, health centers, health clinics, national health organizations, and correctional facilities. For community oral health at public health subcenters involves 12 key duties including projects, education, and community engagement. Public health centers/clinics focus on 16 key duties mainly around health project planning and evaluation. Dental care across both settings has 15 main duties. Public oral health research emphasizes community surveys and epidemiology. Special oral health in correctional facilities covers 11 main duties including education and external resource linking. @*Conclusions@#It concluded that for the development of public health dentists in South Korea, it is necessary to develop public health dentist education programs to promote the performance of public health dentists and to equip them with the competencies necessary to perform such duties, focusing on job descriptions organized around the characteristics of workplaces and major tasks.
ABSTRACT
Objectives@#This study aims to explore the experience of caregivers in oral health care of the elderly in long-term care facilities, identify the problems, and collect opinions, and to seek improvement directions for strengthening competency and improving services of oral health care for the elderly. @*Methods@#Data on the experience in oral health care of the elderly were collected through focus group interviews (FGI) targeting caregivers in long-term care facilities. The grounded theory method was used. The interview content was categorized by open coding, and a paradigm model was presented by identifying the relationship between the categories through axial coding. Selective coding found core categories. @*Results@#As a result of categorizing the caregivers’ oral care experience of the elderly, 15 categories, 40 sub-categories, and 125 concept/phenomena codes were derived. The central phenomenon was the difficulty of implementing sustainable oral health care. The deterioration of the mental and physical functions of the elderly, the work characteristics of caregivers, and the lack of linkage with internal and external resources of the facility acted as causal conditions for the central phenomenon. The caregiver’s oral health education experience acted as an intervening condition. In an effort to improve the problem, an interaction strategy was derived. @*Conclusions@#It is possible to seek delivery of sustainable oral health care services by caregivers by improving the quality of oral health education and establishing an oral health care service system for the elderly.
ABSTRACT
Objectives@#This study aims to suggest ways to improve the oral care competencies of caregivers by strengthening oral care services for the elderly with mobility difficulties in long-term care facilities. @*Methods@#Through a web survey, 215 caregivers were invited, their actual situation was identified, and necessary educational tasks were listed. We developed 16 types of card news, two types of songs, and four types of video clips that can be used in the field for the listed educational topics. Several meetings with expert developers resulted in developing the components and design of an oral health management platform for caregivers in long-term care facilities. @*Results@#As a result of the web survey, many caregivers in long-term care facilities needed education or information on oral care methods, and many people felt difficulties in oral care for the elderly. About 40% of the caregivers had no experience in oral health education, and many learned how to care through unsystematic apprenticeships. Most of the education content that caregivers prioritized were brushing teeth and denture management, but there were also needs such as management of dementia and bedridden patients, non-cooperative oral care, nutrition management, and oral auxiliary products use. @*Conclusions@#In conclusion, this study reviewed and suggested digital platforms such as strengthening caregivers’ competency in long-term care facilities, providing customized educational information, discovering oral problems of the elderly, and reporting oral difficulties to experts.
ABSTRACT
Objectives@#In order to understand the factors that influence the oral health-related quality of life of older adults, we investigated the quality of life, oral health status, and oral health behavior of older adults in a metropolitan city in Korea. @*Methods@#Data were collected from October 2019 to March 2020, after approval was obtained from the authors’ institutional review board. Oral examinations were administered and a structured questionnaire was distributed to 150 older adults at a public nursing home. Data on sociodemographic factors, oral health behaviors, general health questions, and oral health-related quality of life (assessed with the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 [OHIP-14]) were collected with the questionnaire.To assess the general health condition of the participants, grip strength and upper arm and calf circumference were measured. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine the correlation between oral health-related quality of life and other variables. @*Results@#Whether brushing was performed, the number of remaining teeth, and the presence of periodontal disease were found to correlate with OHIP-14 scores (P<0.05). Oral Health Impact Profile-14 scores and sociodemographic factors in older adults through multiple logistic regression analyses with general health, oral health habits and conditions, and need for assistance with daily oral health care. Correlations between OHIP-14 scores and general health variables, such as thigh circumference and grip strength, revealed a low oral health-related quality of life in participants who needed help during brushing (P<0.05). @*Conclusions@#Results of the study confirmed a relationship between OHIP-14 scores and oral health and habits among older adults in public nursing homes with socioeconomic status, and general health, and oral health, and each variable affects the relationship. Further analysis and additional epidemiological studies are needed to understand the interrelationships.
ABSTRACT
Objectives@#In order to understand the factors that influence the oral health-related quality of life of older adults, we investigated the quality of life, oral health status, and oral health behavior of older adults in a metropolitan city in Korea. @*Methods@#Data were collected from October 2019 to March 2020, after approval was obtained from the authors’ institutional review board. Oral examinations were administered and a structured questionnaire was distributed to 150 older adults at a public nursing home. Data on sociodemographic factors, oral health behaviors, general health questions, and oral health-related quality of life (assessed with the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 [OHIP-14]) were collected with the questionnaire.To assess the general health condition of the participants, grip strength and upper arm and calf circumference were measured. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine the correlation between oral health-related quality of life and other variables. @*Results@#Whether brushing was performed, the number of remaining teeth, and the presence of periodontal disease were found to correlate with OHIP-14 scores (P<0.05). Oral Health Impact Profile-14 scores and sociodemographic factors in older adults through multiple logistic regression analyses with general health, oral health habits and conditions, and need for assistance with daily oral health care. Correlations between OHIP-14 scores and general health variables, such as thigh circumference and grip strength, revealed a low oral health-related quality of life in participants who needed help during brushing (P<0.05). @*Conclusions@#Results of the study confirmed a relationship between OHIP-14 scores and oral health and habits among older adults in public nursing homes with socioeconomic status, and general health, and oral health, and each variable affects the relationship. Further analysis and additional epidemiological studies are needed to understand the interrelationships.
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Objectives@#This study aimed to evaluate the perception and needs of the caregivers of infants and children regarding oral health screening in order to identify the problems and the improvements required to increase their satisfaction with the oral health screening system. @*Methods@#An online self-reported survey for the national oral health screening system was conducted for 200 parents raising infants and children in Seoul and the metropolitan area of Korea. The questionnaire for caregivers recorded their thoughts on the current problems, the improvements required in oral health screening, the necessity of screening, and the need for oral h ealth education. @*Results@#The caregivers proposed many requests for precise examination and detailed explanation in the infants and children’s oral health screening and inclusion of simple preventive treatment measures during the screening. Although most parents (94.9%) recognized the necessity of oral checkups for their children, only 76.1% went ahead with the screening. The main reason for screening was prevention and early detection of dental caries. Regarding the need for education, the proportion of respondents receiving oral health education (43.1%) was lower than that of oral health screening (76.1%), even if oral health education and counseling were provided during the screening. The caregivers wanted to learn about the correct tooth brushing methods, causes and prevention of tooth decay, fluoride application, and preferred education methods such as hands-on training, education by dental experts, or visualization. @*Conclusions@#Understanding the perception and needs of caregivers regarding the infants and children’s oral health screening would contribute to improvements in the oral health screening system, thereby increasing their satisfaction.
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Objectives@#In this study, I aimed to evaluate the inhibitory effect of bile acids on the inflammatory response and osteoclastogenesis in RAW 264.7 cells activated through lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and receptor activator of nuclear factor-kB ligand (RANKL) of the periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis. @*Methods@#Myelomonocytic RAW 264.7 cells were activated through P. gingivalis LPS to induce inflammatory response, and were treated with three bile acids, including taurodeoxycholate, taurocholate, and glycocholate at different concentrations. The cytotoxicity of bile acids was assessed through the MTT assay. To evaluate the inhibitory effect of bile acids on inflammatory response, the induction levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-a were measured using ELISA 12 h after the treatment. Additionally, after activating the cells with RANKL to promote osteoclastogenesis, we examined whether bile acids suppressed osteoclast differentiation using the tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase staining. @*Results@#In the cell viability test, taurodeoxycholate and taurocholate did not exhibit any cytotoxic effect on RAW 264.7 cells at concentrations equal to or less than 200 mM, and glycocholate was non-cytotoxic until the maximal concentration (4,000 mM). All the three bile acids exhibited an inhibitory effect on inflammatory response, as the production levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-6 and TNF-a, decreased with an increase in the concentration of the three bile acids in a dose-dependent manner. The expression of IL-6 reduced remarkably upon treatment with taurodeoxycholate and glycocholate (P<0.001), while the expression of TNF-a decreased slightly upon treatment with glycocholate (P<0.05). Moreover, only glycocholate at a concentration of 1,000 mM suppressed osteoclast differentiation of RAW 264.7 cells (P<0.001), while taurodeoxycholate and taurocholate did not exhibit an inhibitory effect on osteoclastogenesis. @*Conclusions@#Here, I showed that all the three bile acids (taurodeoxycholate, taurocholate, and glycocholate) inhibited P. gingivalis LPS-induced inflammatory response, and glycocholate partially suppressed RANKL-mediated osteoclastogenesis in RAW 264.7 cells.
ABSTRACT
Objectives@#In this study, I aimed to evaluate the inhibitory effect of bile acids on the inflammatory response and osteoclastogenesis in RAW 264.7 cells activated through lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and receptor activator of nuclear factor-kB ligand (RANKL) of the periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis. @*Methods@#Myelomonocytic RAW 264.7 cells were activated through P. gingivalis LPS to induce inflammatory response, and were treated with three bile acids, including taurodeoxycholate, taurocholate, and glycocholate at different concentrations. The cytotoxicity of bile acids was assessed through the MTT assay. To evaluate the inhibitory effect of bile acids on inflammatory response, the induction levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-a were measured using ELISA 12 h after the treatment. Additionally, after activating the cells with RANKL to promote osteoclastogenesis, we examined whether bile acids suppressed osteoclast differentiation using the tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase staining. @*Results@#In the cell viability test, taurodeoxycholate and taurocholate did not exhibit any cytotoxic effect on RAW 264.7 cells at concentrations equal to or less than 200 mM, and glycocholate was non-cytotoxic until the maximal concentration (4,000 mM). All the three bile acids exhibited an inhibitory effect on inflammatory response, as the production levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-6 and TNF-a, decreased with an increase in the concentration of the three bile acids in a dose-dependent manner. The expression of IL-6 reduced remarkably upon treatment with taurodeoxycholate and glycocholate (P<0.001), while the expression of TNF-a decreased slightly upon treatment with glycocholate (P<0.05). Moreover, only glycocholate at a concentration of 1,000 mM suppressed osteoclast differentiation of RAW 264.7 cells (P<0.001), while taurodeoxycholate and taurocholate did not exhibit an inhibitory effect on osteoclastogenesis. @*Conclusions@#Here, I showed that all the three bile acids (taurodeoxycholate, taurocholate, and glycocholate) inhibited P. gingivalis LPS-induced inflammatory response, and glycocholate partially suppressed RANKL-mediated osteoclastogenesis in RAW 264.7 cells.