초록
본 연구에서는 A치과에 내원하는 환자 중 20-60세에 해당하는 환자 110명을 대상으로 설문조사를 통해 전신질환과 구강건강 간 연관성에 관한 인식 수준과 교육 현황을 파악하였고, 최종 분석에는 92명의 응답을 포함하였다. 연구대상자 중 두 건강상태의 연관성을 인식하고 있는 비율은 48.9%로 나타났다. 또한 연구대상자 중 39.1%는 전신질환과 구강건강의 연관성에 대한 교육을 받은 경험이 있는 것으로 나타났고, 68.5%는 교육이 필요한 것으로 인식하였다. 전신질환과 구강건강의 연관성과 교육 필요성 인식 수준과 관련된 요인을 확인하기 위하여, 로지스틱회귀분석을 실시한 결과 정기적으로 치과를 내원하는 경우 두 질환의 연관성을 인식할 가능성이 3.94배 높았고, 주관적 구강건강수준이 나쁜 경우 교육의 필요성을 인지할 가능성이 5.20배 높았으며, 과거 교육경험 여부는 두 질환의 연관성 인식 및 교육 필요성 인식 수준에 유의한 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다. 치과에 내원하는 환자들을 대상으로 치과의료전문가는 교육주체자로서 보다 체계적인 교육방식을 통하여 전신질환과 구강건강 간 연관성에 관한 교육을 필수적으로 수행해야 할 것이다. 이를 위해 치과의료전문가는 진료실 구강보건교육 매뉴얼 및 다양한 매체를 개발해야 하고, 효과적인 교육방법을 모색해야 한다.
The purpose of this study was to assess the level of awareness regarding the relationship between systemic diseases and oral health and the importance of education related to this association among dental patients, as well as to identify factors that affect the awareness of the relationship and the perceived need for education. This study was conducted from June 2016 to February 2017. Subjects of this study included outpatients (20-60 years old) from a dental clinic, and only patients who agreed to the survey were included. A total of 110 subjects were included, but the final analysis was based on 92 questionnaires, excluding questionnaires that were inaccurate. Survey questionnaires were completed by self-report and face-to-face interviews with a dental hygienist. The questionnaires covered basic information, awareness of the association between general and oral health, and experience with, and need for education related to, this association. Among the subjects, 48.9% were aware of the association between systemic diseases and oral health. A total of 39.1% of subjects had received education regarding the relationship between systemic diseases and oral health. Subjects who visited dental clinics regularly were 3.94 times (95% confidence intervals [CI]: 1.21-12.84) more likely to be aware of the association between oral health and disease compared with subjects who made only irregular visits to dental clinics. In addition, experience or education was significantly associated with awareness of the relationship between oral health and disease (odds ratio [OR]: 4.64, 95% CI: 1.54-13.93) and the need for education (OR: 3.98, 95% CI: 1.20-13.12). Thus, the dental professionals should provide education on the relationship between oral health and systemic disease in dental clinics to improve patients' awareness and oral health behaviors. These results can be used to strengthen education in the dental clinic.