Abstract
AIMS: To investigate what dental hygienists' practice characteristics and oral health topics are associated with additional time dental hygienists spent on educating patients with diabetes. METHODS: A one-page survey was mailed to 2237 registered dental hygienists in South Carolina. Survey questions focused on perceptions of dental hygienists regarding their oral health preventive education for patients with diabetes. After two follow-up mails, we received 995 usable questionnaires. RESULTS: Multivariable logistic regression modeling showed dental hygienist respondents who spent additional time educating patients with diabetes about oral health felt they had adequately covered the topics on effects of periodontal disease related to diabetes, effects of uncontrolled diabetes on periodontal disease, and nutrition and dietary counseling. In addition, a higher number of patients with diabetes treated per week, and a shorter recall interval for patients were also associated with more likelihood of respondents spending additional time educating patients with diabetes. CONCLUSION: Results suggest that the additional time that dental hygienist respondents spent on educating patients with diabetes was related to oral health issues associated with diabetes, not just repetition of routine oral hygiene and plaque control instructions.