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