高齡社會下，失能人口數增加，相對口腔照護品質及需求提高。台灣各區域教學醫院設有特殊需求之牙科，但個案離院後口腔健康照護與維持仍仰賴照顧者執行，口腔健康及照護在長照體系非常重要。過去研究指出口腔健康識能分數越高，口腔健康行為及狀態越佳。但未有針對照顧者的口腔健康識能對其執行口腔照護工作知識、態度、行為的相關性做研究。本研究採橫斷式方便取樣，透過滾雪球、不記名之網路電子問卷調查位於中部地區醫院、長照機構、居家執業中的照顧服務員，分析口腔健康識能與口腔照護知識、態度、行為的相關性。使用國外學者已發展量表及自編問卷，問卷Cronbach's alpha = 0.761。研究結果顯示口腔健康識能與照顧知識呈顯著正相關 rs = 0.298(p < 0.01)；口腔健康照護態度與照護行為呈顯著正相關 rs = 0.332 (p < 0.01)。口腔健康識能及照護知識與教育程度之間有顯著相關。此外口腔健康照護行為與照護態度也有顯著正相關，教育訓練能改變照護者的態度、行為，提升執行口腔照護次數及時間。建議將口腔照護繼續教育課程納入照顧服務員常規繼續教育，提升口腔照護品質及對象之口腔健康。 As the society aging, the increased number of disabled elderly people triggered the need of high-quality oral care. Although there are teaching hospitals in each region of Taiwan has dental services for special needs, the care and maintenance of oral health of the patients after they left the hospital still depends on the caregiver, and therefore the maintenance of the oral health and care are very important in the long-term care system. Studies in the past have shown the positive relevance between the oral health awareness score and the oral health behavior and state of the caregivers. However, studies focused on the relation between the caregiver’s oral health knowledge and their knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors in performing oral care are scarce. This study uses cross-section sampling and snowballs methods to analyze the oral health knowledge and oral care knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of the caregivers. Online electronic surveys are provided to the care workers in hospitals, long-term care institutions, and those practiced at home in the central region. The scale developed by foreign scholars and self-compiled questionnaire shows the Cronbach's alpha = 0.761 The results of the study shows that the oral health awareness and care knowledge were significantly positively correlated rs = 0.298 (p < 0.01); oral health care attitude and care behavior were significantly positively correlated rs = 0.332 (p < 0.01). There is a significant correlation between oral health knowledge, nursing knowledge and education level. In addition, oral health care behaviors and care attitudes are also significantly positively correlated. The study shows that education and training can change the attitudes and behaviors of caregivers, and increase the frequency and time of performing oral care. It is recommended to incorporate oral care continuing education courses into the regular continuing education of caregivers to improve the quality of oral care and the oral health of the target.
