313 patients (123 men and 190 women) participated in the study (mean age: 53 ± 17 years; range: 18-87 years). In group 1 (dentistry: private practice), questionnaires were completed by 109 patients (mean age: 51 ± 15 years; range: 18–82 years; 24 men and 85 women). In group 2 (dental setting: healthcare system within the hospital), questionnaires were completed by 104 patients (mean age: 53 ± 18 years; range: 21–80 years; 50 men and 54 women). Group 3 (tooth setting: interior of moenia private practice at the hospital) included 100 questionnaires (mean age: 54 ± 19 years; range: 19–87 years; 51 women and 49 men).
Table 1 summarizes the socio-demographic data of baseline patients divided into three different settings.
Most patients showed a BMI within the normal range (P.= 0.02; Figure 1). There were a greater number of underweight patients in group 1 (N = 8), Groups 2 and 3 showed the highest number of overweight or obese patients (N= 50 and N = 43, respectively).
Group 1 private practice (N = 105, because four patients did not record their height and/or weight); Group 2 healthcare system within the hospital (N = 104); Group 3 Private practice within the hospital within Moenia (N = 100).
Most patients in group 1 (private practice) reported taking no daily medication (mean = 0.7 ± 1.2 medications/day; range: 0–7 medications) (Figure 2). Group 2 (hospital health system) and Group 3 (private practice within the hospital, interior of moenia ), most patients were taking one or more medications per day (mean = 1.8 ± 2.1 medications/day, range 0–10 medications and mean = 1.5 ± 2.4 medications/day, range 0–10 medications, respectively ) (Fig. 2). The number of patients taking 3 or more medications per day was higher in group 2 (P. < 0.01; Fig. 2).
Group 1 private practice (N = 109); Group 2 healthcare system within the hospital (N = 103, one patient reported no response); Group 3 interior of moeniaPrivate practice within the hospital (N= 100).
Survey answers
“Have you ever been on a diet?”
This question provides an insight into the previous patient’s propensity and receptivity to seeking nutritional counseling. Approximately half of the patients in all groups reported being on a diet: 63 patients in Group 1, 57 patients in Group 2, and 47 patients in Group 3, with no significant difference (P.= 0.28). In most cases, the diet was prescribed by a dietitian, a nutritionist or a clinician, while in only a few cases the diet was self-administered (Group 1, N= 10; Group 2, N= 22; Group 3, N= 23). In group 1, the majority of patients currently on the diet were female (8 males and 38 females), while in the other groups, genders were balanced.
In group 1, 15 of 63 patients (23.8%) who were already on the diet were outside the BMI range: 3 of them were obese (class I). N= 1; class II N= 1; class III N= 1) and 11 patients were overweight and 1 patient was slightly underweight. Among patients who stated that they had never dieted (N= 46), significantly higher number of patients (N= 21; 45.6%; P.= 0.02) noted that they were out of BMI range compared to patients currently on the diet: 10 patients were overweight and 4 patients were overweight. obese(grade I N= 2; class IIN= 2) and 7’s weight was a little underweight.
In group 2, 30 of 47 patients (63.8%) who were already on the diet showed a BMI outside the range (three were in class I obesity; 27 patients were overweight). They were significantly more likely than patients who were outside the BMI range and not on the diet ( N= 22 out of 57, 38.5%;P.= 0.02 ;15 were overweight, five were class I obese, and two were slightly underweight).
In Group 3, of the 53 patients currently on the diet, 29 (54.7%) were outside the BMI range (twenty overweight, six with class I obesity, two with class II obesity, one with mild underweight) and, who had not been on any diet before. 17 of 47 patients (36.1%; P.= 0.17) had a BMI out of range (twelve were overweight, two were in class I obesity, one was in class II obesity, one was slightly underweight, and one was visibly underweight).
“Would you like to receive advice on nutrition, both generally and specifically to prevent oral diseases such as periodontitis, tooth decay and oral cancer?”
The majority of patients (>80%) in all three groups reported that they were willing to receive information about nutrition (Figure 3;P.= 0.01). Among the patients who did not want to receive advice on nutrition, two in Group 1 were underweight, in Group 3, one was overweight and one was class I obese. Group 2 showed a greater number of patients who were “indifferent” to receiving nutritional advice.
“Do you think a dentist, a nutritionist, or both should give you such advice?”
Group 1 private practice (N= 109); Group 2 healthcare system within the hospital ( N= 104); Group 3interior of moeniaPrivate clinic within the hospital ( N= 100).
In Group 1, 5 patients did not answer this question; therefore, only 94 responses were collected.
The majority of patients in all Groups stated that both the dentist and the nutritionist played the advice-giving role (Figure 4; P.< 0.01). In a few cases, the role of the dentist alone or the nutritionist alone was recognized; For Group 1, there was no difference between the two figures; Group 2 accepted the role of the nutritionist more than Group 3; It was more important than Group 3. view of the dentist (Figure 4;P.= 0.0002).
“Do you think the figure of a nutritionist could be useful in dental clinics?”
Group 1 private practice (N= 104, five patients reported no response); Group 2 healthcare system within the hospital ( N= 104); Group 3interior of moeniaPrivate practice within the hospital ( N= 100).
Across all groups, the nutritionist was perceived as helpful by most patients in the dental setting, especially in Group 2, which included patients from the healthcare system (Figure 5;P.= 0.05).
“Is the dental clinic you apply to able to give advice on nutrition in general, but also on diseases other than oral diseases (systemic diseases, diabetes or cardiovascular disorders)?”
Group 1 private practice (N= 105; five patients did not answer this question); Group 2 healthcare system within the hospital ( N= 104); Group 3interior of moeniaprivate clinic within the hospital ( N= 100).
Most patients expressed interest in having an expert nutritionist at the dental clinic they applied to (Figure 6; P.< 0.01). This was significantly more evident in Group 2, where more than 80% of patients responded positively to this agent (Figure 6;P.= 0.003). Among patients who were not interested in having a nutritionist in the dental setting, 8 patients in Group 1 were outside the BMI range (four were overweight; two were in class I obesity; one was in class II obesity; one was slightly underweight). ); In group 2, 4 patients were overweight; 8 patients in group 3 were at or outside this range (six were overweight, two were in class I obesity).
“In addition to diet planning, do you think it would be beneficial to have regular follow-ups with a nutritionist to monitor whether nutritional goals are being met?”
Group 1 private practice (N= 108; one patient did not respond to this question); Group 2 healthcare system within the hospital ( N= 100; four patients did not give any response); Group 3interior of moeniaprivate clinic within the hospital ( N= 100).
Scheduling regular nutritional monitoring was considered valuable by most patients, especially in Group 2, where patients responded positively in more than 80% of cases. (Figure 7;P.< 0.01).
Group 1 private practice (N= 106; three patients did not answer this question); Group 2 healthcare system within the hospital ( N= 104); Group 3interior of moeniaPrivate practice within the hospital (N= 99; one patient did not answer this question).