Oral health is a human right, an integral part of general health and essential for overall wellbeing and quality of life.1 The World Health Organization (WHO) defines oral health as “a state of being free from mouth and facial pain, oral and throat cancer, oral infection and sores, periodontal disease, tooth decay, tooth loss and other diseases and disorders that limit an individual’s capacity in biting, chewing, smiling, speaking and psychosocial wellbeing”.2,3 It includes dental caries, periodontal disease, tooth loss, oral cancer, oro-dental trauma, noma and birth defects such as cleft lip and palate. The Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 estimated that oral diseases affect nearly 3.5 billion people around the world. International Agency for Research on Cancer reported that Cancers of lip and oral cavity are among the top 20 most common cancers globally with close to 180 000 deaths each year.4.5
Majority of oral diseases share modifiable risk factors with the leading noncommunicable diseases (cardiovascular diseases, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes). These risk factors include tobacco use, alcohol consumption and high sugar diets, all of which are increasing at worldwide. Many Evidence has proved that there is a proven relationship between oral and general health.4,6,7,8 It is reported, for example, that diabetes is linked with the development and progression of periodontitis.9 Moreover, there is a causal link between high consumption of sugars and diabetes10, obesity and dental caries11.
Proper oral health care reduces premature mortality. A detail oral examination can detect signs of nutritional deficiencies as well as a number of general diseases like microbial infections, immune disorders, injuries and oral cancer. For example, the salivary glands are a model of the exocrine glands, and an analysis of saliva can provide important clues to general health or diseases.12,13,14,15
Dental caries and periodontal diseases have been considered to be the most important global oral health burdens. With the combination of community, professional and individual actions, both can be effectively prevented and controlled. In current scenario, distribution and severity of oral diseases vary in different parts of the world and within the same country. A large number of epidemiological surveys show that there are significant role of socio-behavioral and environmental factors in oral health.
Dental caries is a major oral health problem in most industrialized countries at present. About 60–90% of schoolchildren and majority of adults are affected by Dental Caries. Prevalence of Dental Caries is very high among oral disease in several Asian and Latin American countries and it appears to be less common and less severe in most African countries. The signs of gingivitis are prevalent among children and adolescents, while the adults suffer with the initial stages of periodontal diseases worldwide. In 35–44 years age group, 5–20% population suffer with severe periodontitis and Nearly 2% of youth are affected by Juvenile Periodontitis during puberty.16
India is a developing country located in South East Asia, which has the second largest population in the World.17 Prevalence of Dental Caries is increasing in India due to changes in life styles and dietary habits.18 According to oral health survey done by Ministry of Health -WHO India at 2007-08, the prevalence of dental caries among the 12-year- old’s ranged between 23.0–71.5% and adults aged 35–45 years was between 48.1–86.4%. 65–74 years age group had dental caries in the range of 51.6–95.1%. Similarly, periodontal diseases among adults & elderly were in the range of 15.32–77.9% & 19.9–96.1%.19
Oral health care is an essential component of medical care for hospitalized patients, which is mainly provided by nurses and medical care professionals; thus, knowledge and awareness of oral health measures for admitted patients are essential and mandatory. Nursing is one such profession within the health care sector that focuses on the care of individuals, families and communities, so they may attain, maintain or recover optimal health and quality of life. Hospitals worldwide differ in terms of the importance and priority they give to providing oral health measures for their hospitalized patients.
Academic programs in nursing have gaps in the knowledge they provide their students on oral healthcare procedures for hospitalized patients. However, some healthcare providers conduct regular educational programs about oral health care for their staff. The main reason behind such programs is to increase oral health knowledge and awareness among healthcare workers. Other healthcare providers have clear guidelines for oral health care for hospitalized patients and residents that vary according to their length of stay and medical conditions.
It is important to ensure that full oral care is provided for long-term patients and those who are physically restricted owing to their medical condition. Deterioration of oral health can adversely affect the medical situation of the patient. When there is inadequate oral care for hospitalized patients, oral health problems such as dental caries, periodontal inflammation, oral abscess can appear. These problems may appear as a result of the patient’s medical condition, medication side effects, and previous inadequate oral hygiene. Therefore, it is necessary to educate Nurses who deliver bedside care regarding any pathological changes in the oral cavity that can be caused by a patient’s medical condition or medication side effects, so as to prevent any deterioration that may lead to other health problems.
Public health nurses can educate people about health subjects. They can improve public health including oral health and increase access to care. In country like India, where lack of health facilities, patients have to wait a lot when they come to hospital with an illness, public health nurses go into communities to try and help people for improvement in their health. 70% Indians live in villages where less access to health care, public health nurses may provide health services including preventive care, screening services and health education.20
Nurses can easily reach the public as comparison to dentist Therefore, Nurses can play an important role in oral health promotion among common citizen of India. There is a greater dearth of auxiliary personnel in India as only dental surgeons and dental hygienist are functioning here. A nurse is an essential member in dental hospitals and multispecialty hospitals.21 Nurses act as a link between admitted patients and doctors in the hospital.22
A low priority is given to the dental education among nurses, especially among those with lesser education.23 Evidence based study suggested that oral care is important but neglected area of nursing. Most of the nurses have insufficient knowledge about oral care. At present, oral care education program for nurses is very much required in India.24 By collecting information about the existing oral health knowledge and attitude among nursing students, we can assess their efficiency in promoting awareness about oral health among common Indian people. Keeping this objective in mind, this study was undertaken among nursing students and staff of Mahasamund city.