Background

The most common chronic disease affecting children’s health all over the world is dental caries, which continues to pose a serious problem, particularly in low-income populations[1, 2]. Since dental care delivered by dentists is expensive, the dental caries of poor children often go untreated which leads to lower quality of life for them than for children in higher-income families[3, 4]. Moreover, the majority of young children in many countries receive no dental examinations before the age of three though they frequently visit primary health care providers for routine check-ups[5, 6]. These routine check-ups provide a context within to integrate oral health promotion into the practices of non-dental staff in public health centres[7, 8].

Sharing the responsibility for children’s oral health care (OHC) with primary health care creates opportunities for joint ventures in target populations, since the same population is at high risk for other health and social problems. It is therefore more efficient to integrate oral health advices into general health messages by taking advantage of an approach that takes into consideration common health determinants for preventive measures[9]. This common risk factor approach calls for multi-professional collaboration[10, 11]. Comprehensive approaches are certainly even more important and efficient in health care service systems with less developed public dental services.

Primary health nurses are easily accessible, as are low-cost health workers, who are in frequent contact with waiting mothers and children. Integrating OHC into these staff duties is expected to generate cost-effective preventive and health-promoting activities[12]. For example, involving vaccination staff in public health centres to deliver oral health instructions to parents has proved successful in reducing caries in toddlers[13–15]. On the other hand, studies have shown that nurses receive limited training in OHC, and their knowledge in this field is inadequate[1, 16]. In addition, other studies have identified attitudinal barriers among health staff as a major challenge[17].

In this survey, we aimed to study the knowledge of and attitudes towards oral health care among primary care nurses in Tehran as well as to assess their willingness to obtain OHC information.

Methods

Study design and target population

We designed a cross-sectional survey by means of a self-administered questionnaire which the Ethics Committee of the Tehran University of Medical Sciences approved. The target population comprised all nurses working in the public health centres of Tehran in April 2011. Tehran has seven District Health Centres (DHC), which supervise 15 to 30 public health centres with varying numbers of nurses in each unit[18].

The DHCs agreed to distribute the questionnaires to nurses with a gift pack of a tooth-brush and dental floss and collect them in one week. The survey was voluntary and the responses were anonymous. Of the 690 nurses, 680 (97% females) returned completed questionnaires (response rate: 99%).

Variables of the questionnaire and pilot study

We developed the study questionnaire based on previously validated surveys of nurses’ knowledge of, willingness to adopt and attitude toward OHC[18–21]. The content validity of the questionnaire was evaluated by experts in dental public health. Then we conducted a pilot study (test/re-test at a two-week interval) among physicians and nurses (n = 30) working in the public health centers of Qazvin, a city near Tehran. We revised the questionnaire according to the pilot study. The questionnaire comprised statements on knowledge, attitude, and willingness for OHC education and background factors.

Knowledge questions

The questionnaire was a slightly modified version of one used in a similar study performed among primary care physicians and consisted of three domains: a) paediatric dental knowledge, b) general dental knowledge and c) dentistry-related medical knowledge[18].

Each domain included nine questions. In the paediatric domain, the questionnaire enquired about the time of tooth eruption; the time to start brushing and cleaning teeth and using fluoride; the transmission of bacteria; carcinogenicity of breast milk compared to the formula; and the effects of dummy sucking. The dental domain included questions on the first signs of tooth decay and its aetiology, the effects of fluoride and xylitol, the best time to refer a pregnant woman for a dental procedure, and the main cause of periodontal diseases. The medical domain consisted of questions on the relationship between systemic and periodontal diseases, and how drugs increase the risk for dental caries[18].

Attitude questions

We measured nurses’ attitudes on a five-point Likert scale using eight statements describing the nurses’ opinions about OHC and their role in preventing oral diseases: “Dental caries and periodontitis can be stopped”, “Nurses should examine the oral cavity ”, “Routine dental visits are effective in preventing dental diseases”, “Nurses may play an important role in preventing oral diseases”, “Oral health care delivered by nurses is inefficient”, “Having oral health problems can lead to general health problems”, “I would like to implement preventive oral health activities” and “Prevention is more important than other activities”. Their responses ranged from “strongly agree” to “strongly disagree”, including “don’t know”.

Willingness question

We also measured nurses’ willingness to obtain more training in oral health with a statement asking “How much are you willing to obtain more information about oral health?” and five Likert response alternatives: 1) very much, 2) much, 3) little, 4) very little, 5) not at all.

Backgrounds

Socio-demographics included age, gender, educational degree, work experience (in years), and the socio-economic status of the region in which the public health centres are located (affluent/non-affluent). We also assessed the nurses’ oral health behaviour (OHB) with five questions about their “frequency of tooth brushing” (Irregularly or never, Once a week, A few (2–3) times a week, Once a day, More than once a day), “using fluoride tooth-paste” (Always or almost always, Rather often, Seldom, Never), “flossing” (Not at all, Occasionally, A few (2–3) times a week, Once a day, More than once a day), “eating sugar-containing snacks between meals” (About three times a day or more, About twice a day, About once a day, Occasionally (not every day), Rarely) and “the time of your last dental check-up” (Within six months, Six months to one year ago, One to two years ago, Two to five years ago, More than five years ago, Never, Do not remember).

Data analyses

We dichotomised the answers to the knowledge questions to “1” for correct answers and “0” for false and “don’t know” answers. Thereafter, we calculated a total score for the knowledge category (range: 0–23) as well as its three domains [paediatric dental (range: 0–9), general dental (range: 0–9) and medical (range: 0–9)]. For the attitude questions, we scored response alternatives from 0 to 4. We then calculated a total score for each person (range: 0–32).

We coded the responses to the OHB questions such that higher scores represented more desirable habits (1–7), and then calculated a sum variable for OHB. For further analysis, we divided the sum variable of paediatric knowledge, attitude, and OHB into three categories, based on the 33rd percentile for the responses, as low, medium and high scores.

Statistical analysis

Evaluation of the statistical significance of the differences between the subgroups included the independent samples t-test and one-way ANOVA for the comparison of mean values, and the Chi-square test for frequencies. We used analysis of variance with repeated measurements and the paired samples t-test to evaluate statistical significances between the mean scores.

A logistic regression model served in the multivariate assessment of factors related to a high score in attitude compared to those related to a low score. We then determined the corresponding odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). We used the Hosmer and Lemeshow test to assess goodness of fit (p = 0.146).

Results

Backgrounds

The participants varied in age from 22 to 56 years (mean: 37 years, SD: 8), and a majority of them were women (97%). Table 1 shows the distribution of those primary care nurses working in the public health centres according to their background characteristics. Among the nurses, 66% had higher educational degrees (BS and MS), 27% had two-years of university education, and 7% had either a diploma or less than a diploma. In the non-affluent area, more nurses held lower degrees than did nurses in the affluent area. The nurses’ OHB score ranged from 10 to 26 (mean = 19.71, SD: 2.55).

Table 1 Distribution of nurses (n = 680) working in public health centres according to background characteristics in Tehran, Iran
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Knowledge of oral health

The nurses’ knowledge of oral health scores appear in Table 2 according to their backgrounds. The mean score for the paediatric dentistry domain (3.6, SD: 1.5) was lower than that for the medical (4.4, SD: 2.3) and dental (5.8, SD: 1.5) domains (p < 0.001). In the paediatric dentistry domain, the smallest number of correct answers was for dummy sucking (13%). About one-fourth of the nurses knew the correct time of tooth eruption (24%), the time to use fluoride toothpaste (26%), about the transmission of bacteria from mother to child (27%), while 80% were knowledgeable about the lesser carcinogenicity of breast milk compared to the formula. In the dental domain, the lowest percentage of correct answer was for the first sign of dental caries (48%) and the highest for the aetiology of dental caries (92%). In the medical domain, the percentage of correct answers regarding the relationship between periodontal and systemic diseases ranged between 60% and 79%, while the percentages for the effects of drugs on dental caries were 20% to 40%.

Table 2 The nurses’ (n = 680) knowledge scores (mean, SD) in three domains according to their background characteristics in Tehran, Iran
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The nurses working in the affluent area had higher scores in total knowledge and in the medical domain than did their colleagues working in the non-affluent area. The knowledge of medicine score was the lowest among nurses with low OHB scores (p < 0.05).

Attitude toward OHC

The mean score of the nurses’ attitudes toward OHC was 22 (SD: 5.5). Figure 1 shows that almost all nurses had generally positive attitudes toward preventive OHC. In their opinion, routine dental visits are effective (94%), and they were aware of the relationship between dental and general health (91%). Most (72%) of them believed that they could play an important role in preventing oral diseases, while 60% were interested in implementing preventive activities for their patients. Half (49%) of the nurses believed that OHC delivered by nurses is efficient, and 40% thought that they should examine the oral cavity and teeth during routine patient visits. Table 3 shows that nurses with higher paediatric knowledge scores held more positive attitudes toward preventive OHC than did those with lower paediatric knowledge scores.

Figure 1
figure 1

Nurses’ (n = 680) attitudes toward oral health care in public health centres in Tehran, Iran.

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Table 3 Primary care nurses’ (n = 680) attitudes toward dental health care and their paediatric knowledge scores in Tehran, Iran
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Willingness to obtain OHC information

Most nurses (69%) were willing to learn more about OHC. Younger nurses, nurses working in the non-affluent area, and those with less work experience were more willing in this regard than were their older colleagues, those who were working in the affluent area and those who had more experience (p = 0.001).

Multivariate analysis

After controlling for other background characteristics, the logistic regression model revealed that higher scores in the paediatric (OR = 1.2, 95% CI: 1.0-1.4) and dental (OR = 1.3, 95% CI: 1.1-1.6) domains and a greater willingness to learn more about OHC (OR = 5.3, 95% CI: 3.2-8.8) were associated with a positive attitude toward OHC (Table 4).

Table 4 Factors associated with nurses’ (n = 680) attitudes (high/low) toward oral health care controlling for background characteristics as shown by a logistic regression model
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Nurses with a lower educational degree (OR = 1.9, 95% CI: 1.3-2.8), better OHB (OR = 1.1, 95% CI: 1.0-1.2), and those working in the non-affluent area (OR = 1.6, 95% CI: 1.0-2.5) held a more positive attitude toward OHC than did those with a higher educational degree, a lower OHB score, and those working in the affluent area (p < 0.05).

Discussion

Our study showed a great lack of knowledge of OHC among primary care nurses working in the public health centres of Tehran. The nurses, however, clearly acknowledged the importance of prevention and showed a great willingness as well as a positive attitude towards improving their skills in this field.

OHC knowledge

The present study revealed a low level of oral health knowledge among the nurses; because they correctly answered on average half of the questions related to oral health knowledge. Another study has reported similar findings among primary care personnel[18]. In a study of nurse practitioners’ knowledge, opinions and practice behaviours regarding oral disease and its outcomes, Wooten et al. also reported that nurses have limited knowledge of oral health[16].

In many countries with developing health care systems, most young children are not included in regular dental recall systems by dentists until they reach the age of three to six years; they do, however, see primary care providers – including nurses – up to ten times for health screenings and vaccinations before their first birthday[19]. Consequently, this professional group can play a key role in the early prevention of oral diseases in children. Although the WHO recommends integrating oral health promotion with general health promotion and provides technical and policy support for countries to achieve this goal[22], primary care providers receive limited training in this field[1, 23, 24], and particularly in the field of paediatric dentistry, as our study revealed. This finding is also consistent with the low levels of knowledge of paediatric OHC among primary care physicians in the same public health care setting in Tehran[18].

As the WHO emphasised, offering oral health care in developing countries within the context of primary health care programmes is important[22]. In many health care systems, primary care nurses may be the only trustworthy source of oral health preventive information from birth based on their early relationships with young children and their parents. If given appropriate training in this field, nurses can consult with parents on, for example, feeding practices, oral home care (brushing/flossing), and the use of fluorides early on in the child's life. Moreover, they could also help to diagnose caries in their early stages by referring children to dental clinics for further examination and preventive procedures or possible treatment. Studies have shown that these auxiliary workers have a considerable impact on preventive activities and are a potential target for educational interventions[25–27].

Although the nurses’ knowledge of OHC was relatively low, priming their knowledge of oral health issues and supporting their practices would benefit the promotion of oral health. Since OHC training in the basic educational curriculum of public health nurses may often be limited, there is a need to broaden their awareness and collaboration in OHC through organised training such as continuous education. Studies have shown that continuous and periodic education offers both short-term and long-term knowledge gains and could well be planned to target primary care nurses working in public health centres[28]. Several studies (e.g. Kuronen et al. 2011) have shown that such interventions proved successful among these professionals[25].

Attitudes among nurses

The nurses generally held positive attitudes toward OHC and admitted that they should be more knowledgeable in this field. Of the nurses, more than 90% identified the relationship between dental and general health and believed that routine dental visits are effective in preventing oral diseases. However, fewer than half of them were interested in incorporating OHC into their routine patient visits, perhaps because of their hectic daily workload or, as Fulmer et al. (2012) reported, because they may think that “oral examination is not in their scope of practice”[29]. In contrast, another study reported that nurses were interested in implementing screening for their patients[16]. Despite most nurses’ belief in their essential role in preventing oral diseases, only half of them believed that their OHC would be effective. This finding may be related to the nurses’ awareness of their low level of knowledge in the field. Nurses with higher knowledge scores, especially in the paediatric and dental domains, and those more willing to learn more about oral health showed more positive attitudes. Furthermore, in our study, nurses with higher attitude scores were more willing to receive additional training in OHC, which would likely lead to improvements in their knowledge in the area. Our findings emphasise the necessity of appropriate training and encouragement for nurses working in primary care, a process which has proved effective in providing oral health promotion and disease prevention activities[19].

Surprisingly, nurses with a lower educational degree held more positive attitudes toward OHC, possibly showing that those with more education might focus their interest on more specific duties such as visiting waiting mothers for their routine check-ups, advising them about their self-care and diet, and prescribing drugs (if needed) rather than consulting about their own or their child’s OHC.

Willingness to obtain oral health information

Nurses in the present survey were interested in obtaining more training in OHC, which is in line with the results of a previous study in which nurses agreed on the need for more information in this topic[16] as well as on the willingness of Iranian primary health care personnel to receive more OHC training[18]. The finding that younger nurses and those who had less work experience were more willing to expand their knowledge may be due to the workload of their experienced colleagues and their lack of time[30].

Socio-economic status

Our study included DHCs from both affluent and non-affluent parts of the city of Tehran. In the affluent parts of the city, access to private dental care practice is extensive, and the people there can more easily afford these services than can those in the non-affluent regions. The nurses’ level of knowledge proved to be lower in the non-affluent areas, where children may have a greater need for dental care[31]. Nevertheless, their positive attitude and notable insight into how to deliver OHC through their routine patient care is promising. In addition, both nurses and physicians in the non–affluent area were more willing to receive training in OHC[18]. These findings may be related to their awareness of the formidable challenges poor access to care pose to better oral health[19, 32]. The nurses are in frequent contact with children from disadvantaged families who may suffer from various dental diseases. Untreated dental diseases can have a substantial impact on children’s well-being in low-income populations[33, 34]. Our findings call for OHC training for primary care nurses especially among non-privileged populations.

Primary care in Tehran

The organised public health system for delivering primary health care in Iran was established in the 1970s, and OHC was integrated into the nationwide primary health care network in 1997. Several public health care centres with different health care units, such as medical, family health, maternity and vaccination units, with a number of primary care nurses, work under the supervision of DHCs. About 60% of these centres have an OHC unit with a dentist who is in charge of basic OHC services, such as restorations, scaling and extractions, mainly for 6- to 12-year-olds through a school-based national programme, as well as for pregnant and nursing mothers[5]. Because of the extremely young population of the country and the high prevalence of dental caries in children under the age of six, a public health approach which takes this young population into account is essential and could best be achieved by incorporating the great potential of non-dental staff, including nurses in primary health care[17, 18].

Integration

Previous studies have shown that primary care medical providers, and nurses in particular, can play an important role in helping individuals gain access to OHC and in introducing successful preventive measures, particularly for children at the highest risk for early childhood caries in underserved areas[32, 33, 35]. The WHO Global Oral Health programme emphasises that oral health is integral and essential to general health, and that any attempt to improve oral health should be integrated into other health-promoting strategies and actions[36]. Dental and paediatric associations have also underscored the importance of integrating oral health into general health for sharing the responsibility of OHC with primary care medical practitioners[8, 34].

Strengths and limitations of the study

The study included all nurses working in the public health centres of Tehran, and the high response rate speaks for the representativeness of the present study and increases its value. Our cross-sectional design permits investigation of potential associations between one’s attitude and level of knowledge; causality clearance, however, would require a longitudinal design. Surveys with a self-administered questionnaire may also have some typical shortcomings, such over- and under reporting due to social acceptance, a phenomenon that the anonymous character of this study may have minimized.

Conclusions

Our study revealed a low level of knowledge in OHC among primary care nurses, who simultaneously exhibited a generally positive attitude and notable willingness to obtain more training in this field. These findings point to an essential need for appropriate training and encouragement in OHC, especially among nurses working in developing health care systems, to promote oral health and to provide suitable conditions for the prevention of dental diseases.