303279
Assessing Attributes of an Oral Health Literate Organization: A Feasibility Study
Methods: This prospective study: 1) Established the level of commitment to oral health literacy (OHL) in the dental school by first conducting an institutional audit of all institutional publications and processes (both electronically and manually) using a key words search. Results of the audit were then analyzed to ascertain the degree of institutional focus associated with existing elements of OHL. 2) Established a progressive plan for improving levels of institutional OHL enhancement. Baseline levels of OHL knowledge were assessed among staff, students, and patients using a previously validated survey instrument. Incoming first-year dental students completed the survey during orientation week and staff completed the survey during an annual school retreat. Patients will be completing the survey using iPads during their initial visit to the school clinic. Survey results for these three groups will be analyzed to guide development of next steps to monitor measurable related behavioral changes to enhance optimum future institutional literacy in this setting.
Results: Student data has been documented; staff survey responses completed date of April 1, 2014. Patient responses completed summer 2014. Descriptive statistics (frequencies/percentages) will be reported; inferential statistics will be used to determine differences between demographic characteristics and oral health literacy scores.
Summary: The “Attributes of a Health Literate Organization” outlined by the Institutes of Medicine (2012) guided the OHL assessment in one dental school. Future steps will include assessment of patients and initiatives to enhance OHL in dental schools.
Learning Areas:
Communication and informaticsProgram planning
Public health or related organizational policy, standards, or other guidelines
Learning Objectives:
Explain the initial process used to determine the level of commitment to oral health literacy in the dental school.
Describe the steps for improving the institutional literacy levels for future enhancement of oral health literacy.
Analyze the lessons learned from the project to-date.
Identify ideas/suggestions for improving the process, as well as the survey instrument used to measure oral health literacy in a dental school setting.
Keyword(s): Health Literacy, Oral Health
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the PI of the grant and have been conducting educational research for over ten years. I have published over 40 articles and presented over 40 abstracts at professional conferences.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
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.