224644 Oral health literacy: A dental practice priority

Sunday, November 7, 2010

David A. Albert, DDS, MPH , College of Dental Medicine, Section of Social & Behavioral Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY
Sharifa Z. Williams, MPH , College of Dental Medicine, Section of Social & Behavioral Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY
Angela Ward, MA , College of Dental Medicine, Section of Social & Behavioral Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY
Mary Lee Conicella, DMD , National Director of Clinical Operations, Aetna Dental, Pittsburgh, PA
Piyumika M. Kularatne, EdD, MPH, CHES , College of Dental Medicine, Section of Social & Behavioral Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY
An oral health literacy continuing education (CE) course was developed for dentists participating in a national insurance company. The course responds to initiatives of the Surgeon General and the American Dental Association (ADA). In 2003, the Surgeon General released A National Call to Action to Promote Oral Health, in which there was a specific call to enhance oral health literacy. In 2007, the ADA passed a resolution to support health literacy education in CE courses.

This CE course offers education on the impact of oral health literacy on patient health status and outcomes. Methods for assessing patient health literacy are provided to clinicians. There are numerous tests available to assess the reading level of patients, however most is too time consuming to be used in the clinical setting. A brief “clinic-friendly” health literacy assessment of 3 questions is offered to address this issue. Strategies are provided to improve patient-dentist communication; these include use of written and visual educational resources, techniques such as using a conversational style and avoiding the use of dental jargon. Dental patients who have an incomplete understanding of their oral health status visit the dentist less often for routine oral care than the general population. Even an individual who is relatively well-educated and who functions well at home and at work may have inadequate literacy in the health care setting.

Improving health literacy is vital if people are to successfully navigate the complex healthcare system that currently exists and better manage their own health.

Learning Areas:
Provision of health care to the public

Learning Objectives:
Discuss the relationship between health literacy, oral health literacy, and patient outcomes. Describe various methods available for assessing patient health literacy. List strategies to improve patient-dentist communication.

Keywords: Health Literacy, Oral Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I direct courses in public health and dentistry. I write for and direct a consumer oral health information website and conduct research on dissemination of health information to consumers.
Any relevant financial relationships? Yes

Name of Organization Clinical/Research Area Type of relationship
Aetna Dental Health Services Research Independent Contractor (contracted research and clinical trials)

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.