Oral health literacy and patient delays among patients receiving endodontic treatment in stomatological hospitals: a correlation study

Abstract

Abstract Background Oral health literacy is closely related to the oral health-related behaviours of a population, and patient delays greatly influence the oral health of patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the current status of patient delays, oral health literacy, and influencing factors among patients receiving endodontic treatment in a stomatological hospital, and to analyse the correlation between them. In addition, to investigate current treatment delays, oral health literacy, and influencing factors among patients visiting the endodontic department of a stomatological hospital, and to analyse the correlation between them. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among patients who visited the endodontic department of a tertiary stomatological hospital in Changsha, China from March to July 2023. The patients’ responses were gauged via a questionnaire that included general information, patient delay information, and the short-form Health Literacy Dental Scale. The factors influencing patients’ oral health literacy were studied using multiple linear regression analysis, and the correlation between patient delays and oral health literacy was studied using logistic regression analysis. Results A total of 204 subjects were included in this study. Age, education level, location of residence, and frequency of oral examinations affected the level of patients’ oral health literacy. About 43.3% of the patients had patient delays, with a per capita delay of about 90 days. The total score for oral health literacy was negatively correlated with the number of treatment-delay days. Conclusions Older age was associated with lower education level, lower administrative level of the place of residence (i.e., more remote and unpopulated areas), lower frequency of oral examination, and poorer oral health literacy among the patients. Lower oral health literacy scores correlated with a higher number of treatment-delay days. To avoid patient delays, dental nurses should strengthen their assessments of patients’ oral health literacy and develop targeted care measures for key populations.