Impact of an oral health education intervention among a group of patients with eating disorders (anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa)
Abstract Background It is recognized that eating disorders are serious psychosocial illnesses that affect many adolescents and adults. A pre and post survey study was developed to assess demographics, oral health knowledge and self-image of patients with eating disorders participating in a hospital-...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2019-09-01
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| Series: | Journal of Eating Disorders |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40337-019-0259-x |
| _version_ | 1797936495828402176 |
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| author | Laura S. Silverstein Carol Haggerty Lattice Sams Ceib Phillips Michael W. Roberts |
| author_facet | Laura S. Silverstein Carol Haggerty Lattice Sams Ceib Phillips Michael W. Roberts |
| author_sort | Laura S. Silverstein |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background It is recognized that eating disorders are serious psychosocial illnesses that affect many adolescents and adults. A pre and post survey study was developed to assess demographics, oral health knowledge and self-image of patients with eating disorders participating in a hospital-based eating disorder clinic using an original oral health education program. The program’s aim is to change the self-image and oral health practices of patients with anorexia-binge eating/purging (AN-BP) and bulimia nervosa (BN) disorders. Methods A pre-survey was completed by each study participant prior to attending the three educational sessions over a six-week period. A post survey questionnaire was completed after participation in all the educational presentations. Forty-six patients attended all three educational sessions and completed the pre and post-questionnaires. Results Most patients knew in advance that AN-BP and BN behavior can cause erosion of the teeth but only 30% knew the most likely location for the erosion to occur. But, following completion of the educational interventions, 73% answered the location correctly. Patients who reported going to the dentist regularly were significantly more likely to respond that their teeth/mouth had a positive effect on how they looked to themselves and to others, their general health, and their general happiness. Positive responses to the effect of the teeth/mouth on kissing and romantic relationships were also significantly higher for those who go to the dentist regularly compared to those who do not. Conclusions There is a need to further understand AN-BP and BP patients’ oral health knowledge and self-image perceptions as it relates to their smile (teeth, mouth) to assist in developing a standardized oral health program for eating disorder centers to implement into their daily curricula. A dental team member in an interdisciplinary eating disorder treatment team is important. Including an oral health education program improves patients’ oral hygiene and oral health knowledge, as well as provides a supportive environment to empower the patients to take control of their overall oral health. Trial registration This study was retrospectively registered on April 18, 2019 in ClinicalTrials.gov, Identifier: NCT03921632. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T18:31:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f7bcc91a99de4ffda0197861299f522e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2050-2974 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T18:31:34Z |
| publishDate | 2019-09-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Eating Disorders |
| spelling | doaj.art-f7bcc91a99de4ffda0197861299f522e2023-02-02T04:24:14ZengBMCJournal of Eating Disorders2050-29742019-09-01711610.1186/s40337-019-0259-xImpact of an oral health education intervention among a group of patients with eating disorders (anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa)Laura S. Silverstein0Carol Haggerty1Lattice Sams2Ceib Phillips3Michael W. Roberts4Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Children’s Hospital ColoradoDivision of Comprehensive Oral Health, University of North Carolina Adams School of DentistryDepartment of Pediatric Dentistry, Children’s Hospital ColoradoDivision of Craniofacial and Surgical Sciences, University of North Carolina Adams School of DentistryDivision of Pediatric and Public Health, University of North Carolina Adams School of DentistryAbstract Background It is recognized that eating disorders are serious psychosocial illnesses that affect many adolescents and adults. A pre and post survey study was developed to assess demographics, oral health knowledge and self-image of patients with eating disorders participating in a hospital-based eating disorder clinic using an original oral health education program. The program’s aim is to change the self-image and oral health practices of patients with anorexia-binge eating/purging (AN-BP) and bulimia nervosa (BN) disorders. Methods A pre-survey was completed by each study participant prior to attending the three educational sessions over a six-week period. A post survey questionnaire was completed after participation in all the educational presentations. Forty-six patients attended all three educational sessions and completed the pre and post-questionnaires. Results Most patients knew in advance that AN-BP and BN behavior can cause erosion of the teeth but only 30% knew the most likely location for the erosion to occur. But, following completion of the educational interventions, 73% answered the location correctly. Patients who reported going to the dentist regularly were significantly more likely to respond that their teeth/mouth had a positive effect on how they looked to themselves and to others, their general health, and their general happiness. Positive responses to the effect of the teeth/mouth on kissing and romantic relationships were also significantly higher for those who go to the dentist regularly compared to those who do not. Conclusions There is a need to further understand AN-BP and BP patients’ oral health knowledge and self-image perceptions as it relates to their smile (teeth, mouth) to assist in developing a standardized oral health program for eating disorder centers to implement into their daily curricula. A dental team member in an interdisciplinary eating disorder treatment team is important. Including an oral health education program improves patients’ oral hygiene and oral health knowledge, as well as provides a supportive environment to empower the patients to take control of their overall oral health. Trial registration This study was retrospectively registered on April 18, 2019 in ClinicalTrials.gov, Identifier: NCT03921632.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40337-019-0259-xOral health educationEating disordersAnorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa |
| spellingShingle | Laura S. Silverstein Carol Haggerty Lattice Sams Ceib Phillips Michael W. Roberts Impact of an oral health education intervention among a group of patients with eating disorders (anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa) Journal of Eating Disorders Oral health education Eating disorders Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa |
| title | Impact of an oral health education intervention among a group of patients with eating disorders (anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa) |
| title_full | Impact of an oral health education intervention among a group of patients with eating disorders (anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa) |
| title_fullStr | Impact of an oral health education intervention among a group of patients with eating disorders (anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of an oral health education intervention among a group of patients with eating disorders (anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa) |
| title_short | Impact of an oral health education intervention among a group of patients with eating disorders (anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa) |
| title_sort | impact of an oral health education intervention among a group of patients with eating disorders anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa |
| topic | Oral health education Eating disorders Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40337-019-0259-x |
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