Aim This study analyzes factors associated with dimensions of health literacy (HL) functional, communicative and critical among public health service users with chronic non-communicable diseases. Methods A cross-sectional analytical research was carried out in Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil, with adults and older adults attending Family Health Units (FHU). Data were collected by oral exam (CPOD and CPI) and a questionnaire on systemic conditions, sociodemographic factors, health behaviors and HLS (HLS-14). The outcomes consisted of functional, communicative, and critical HL dimensions dichotomized by median (high and low), which were analyzed by chi-square test (p<0.05) to find associations with the variables studied. Results The study sample comprised 238 FHU users with 62.7 (± 10.55) mean age, of which 47.5% (n=113) showed high functional HL, 50.0% (n=119) high communicative HL, and 46.2% (n=110) high critical HL. High functional HL was associated with men (p<0.05). Functional and communicative HL were associated with having higher education (p<0.001 and p=0.018, respectively). High communicative and critical HL were associated with regular use of dental and medical services (p<0.05). Individuals with low functional HL were more likely to present poor tooth brushing (p=0.020). High HL (in all three dimensions) was associated with regular flossing and having more teeth (p<0.05). Conclusion Functional, communicative and critical HL were associated with health behaviors and clinical outcomes, whereas the functional dimension was also associated with sociodemographic factors. HL dimensions allowed to differentiate health-related factors.

RESUMO OBJETIVO O objetivo foi analisar o papel da Literacia em Saúde (LS) como fator associado às perdas dentárias entre usuários do Sistema Único de Saúde com doenças crônicas não transmissíveis. MÉTODOS O estudo transversal e analítico foi conduzido com usuários adultos e idosos selecionados em dez Unidades de Saúde da Família sorteadas, em Piracicaba – SP, Brasil. Foi aplicado um questionário com dados sociodemográficos (sexo, idade, cor da pele e escolaridade), comportamentais (escovação e uso de fio dental), determinantes em saúde (tipo e frequência de uso de serviço de saúde médico e odontológico) e clínica (dor). As condições bucais foram coletadas por exame intrabucal do biofilme dental visível e Índice Pediodontal Comunitário. As condições clínicas sistêmicas (glicemia, hemoglobina glicada e pressóricas) foram extraídas dos prontuários. A variável explanatória foi a LS (baixa, média e alta), medida pelo Health Literacy Scale (HLS-14). RESULTADOS O desfecho foi à perda dentária medida pelo Índice de dentes permanentes cariados, perdidos e obturados. Foi realizada regressão logística com uso de um modelo conceitual para a LS (p < 0,05). Para os 238 indivíduos, a média de idade foi 62,7 anos (± 10,55). A perda dentária esteve associada à LS nos modelos de regressão ajustados por tipo de serviço odontológico, frequência odontológica e uso de fio dental. No modelo final, a perda dentária teve como fatores associados a maior idade (OR = 1,12; IC95% 1,07–1,17), menor escolaridade (OR = 3,43; IC95% 1,17–10,10), ao uso irregular de fio dental (OR = 4,58; IC95% 1,75–7,31), uso irregular do serviço odontológico (OR = 2,60; IC95% 1,32–5,12), bolsa periodontal (> 4mm) (OR = 0,31; IC95% 0,01–0,08), ter biofilme dental visível (OR = 7,23; IC95% 3,19–16,41) e maior índice de glicemia (OR = 1,98; IC95% 1,00–3,92). CONCLUSÕES A perda dentária esteve associada à LS quando ajustada por comportamentos em saúde, a partir da inclusão das variáveis sociodemográficas e condições clínicas ela perdeu a significância. No modelo final, comportamentos, determinantes em saúde e condições clínicas foram indicadores de risco da perda dentária, demonstrando a multifatorialidade envolvida neste fenômeno.

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE The objective was to analyze the role of health literacy (HL) as a factor associated with tooth loss among users of the Brazilian Health System with chronic non-communicable diseases. METHODS The cross-sectional analytical study was conducted with adult and elderly users chosen at ten Family Health Clinics in a draw in the town of Piracicaba, São Paulo State, Brazil. A questionnaire was applied with sociodemographic data (sex, age, skin color and education), behavioral data (brushing and flossing), determinants in health (type of dental health services and how often) and clinical data (pain). Mouth conditions were collected by intraoral examination of visible dental biofilm and community Pediodontal Index. The systemic clinical conditions (blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin and blood pressure) were extracted from the medical records. The explanatory variable was HL (low, medium and high), measured with the Health Literacy Scale (HLS-14). RESULTS The outcome was tooth loss measured by the index of decayed, missing and filled teeth. Logistic regression was performed using a conceptual model for HL (p < 0.05). For the 238 subjects, the mean age was 62.7 years (± 10.55). Tooth loss was associated with HL in regression models adjusted by type of dental service, dental frequency, and dental floss. In the final model, the factors associated with tooth loss are older age (OR = 1,12; 95%CI: 1,07–1,17), a lower education (OR = 3,43; 95%CI: 1,17–10,10), irregular use of dental floss (OR = 4,58; 95%CI: 1.75 in–7,31), irregular use of dental services (n = 2,60; 95% 1,32–5,12), periodontal pocket (> 4 mm) (n = 0,31; 95%CI: 0,01–0,08), having visible dental biofilm (OR = 7,23; 95%CI: 3,19–16,41) and a higher level of blood sugar (glucose) (n = 1,98; 95%CI: 1.00–3,92). CONCLUSIONS tooth loss was associated with HL when adjusted by health behaviors; when sociodemographic variables and clinical conditions were included, it was less significant. In the final model, behaviors, determinants in health and clinical conditions were risk indicators of tooth loss, showing the multifactorial nature of this phenomenon.

RESUMO OBJETIVO O objetivo foi analisar o papel da Literacia em Saúde (LS) como fator associado às perdas dentárias entre usuários do Sistema Único de Saúde com doenças crônicas não transmissíveis. MÉTODOS O estudo transversal e analítico foi conduzido com usuários adultos e idosos selecionados em dez Unidades de Saúde da Família sorteadas, em Piracicaba – SP, Brasil. Foi aplicado um questionário com dados sociodemográficos (sexo, idade, cor da pele e escolaridade), comportamentais (escovação e uso de fio dental), determinantes em saúde (tipo e frequência de uso de serviço de saúde médico e odontológico) e clínica (dor). As condições bucais foram coletadas por exame intrabucal do biofilme dental visível e Índice Pediodontal Comunitário. As condições clínicas sistêmicas (glicemia, hemoglobina glicada e pressóricas) foram extraídas dos prontuários. A variável explanatória foi a LS (baixa, média e alta), medida pelo Health Literacy Scale (HLS-14). RESULTADOS O desfecho foi à perda dentária medida pelo Índice de dentes permanentes cariados, perdidos e obturados. Foi realizada regressão logística com uso de um modelo conceitual para a LS (p < 0,05). Para os 238 indivíduos, a média de idade foi 62,7 anos (± 10,55). A perda dentária esteve associada à LS nos modelos de regressão ajustados por tipo de serviço odontológico, frequência odontológica e uso de fio dental. No modelo final, a perda dentária teve como fatores associados a maior idade (OR = 1,12; IC95% 1,07–1,17), menor escolaridade (OR = 3,43; IC95% 1,17–10,10), ao uso irregular de fio dental (OR = 4,58; IC95% 1,75–7,31), uso irregular do serviço odontológico (OR = 2,60; IC95% 1,32–5,12), bolsa periodontal (> 4mm) (OR = 0,31; IC95% 0,01–0,08), ter biofilme dental visível (OR = 7,23; IC95% 3,19–16,41) e maior índice de glicemia (OR = 1,98; IC95% 1,00–3,92). CONCLUSÕES A perda dentária esteve associada à LS quando ajustada por comportamentos em saúde, a partir da inclusão das variáveis sociodemográficas e condições clínicas ela perdeu a significância. No modelo final, comportamentos, determinantes em saúde e condições clínicas foram indicadores de risco da perda dentária, demonstrando a multifatorialidade envolvida neste fenômeno.

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE The objective was to analyze the role of health literacy (HL) as a factor associated with tooth loss among users of the Brazilian Health System with chronic non-communicable diseases. METHODS The cross-sectional analytical study was conducted with adult and elderly users chosen at ten Family Health Clinics in a draw in the town of Piracicaba, São Paulo State, Brazil. A questionnaire was applied with sociodemographic data (sex, age, skin color and education), behavioral data (brushing and flossing), determinants in health (type of dental health services and how often) and clinical data (pain). Mouth conditions were collected by intraoral examination of visible dental biofilm and community Pediodontal Index. The systemic clinical conditions (blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin and blood pressure) were extracted from the medical records. The explanatory variable was HL (low, medium and high), measured with the Health Literacy Scale (HLS-14). RESULTS The outcome was tooth loss measured by the index of decayed, missing and filled teeth. Logistic regression was performed using a conceptual model for HL (p < 0.05). For the 238 subjects, the mean age was 62.7 years (± 10.55). Tooth loss was associated with HL in regression models adjusted by type of dental service, dental frequency, and dental floss. In the final model, the factors associated with tooth loss are older age (OR = 1,12; 95%CI: 1,07–1,17), a lower education (OR = 3,43; 95%CI: 1,17–10,10), irregular use of dental floss (OR = 4,58; 95%CI: 1.75 in–7,31), irregular use of dental services (n = 2,60; 95% 1,32–5,12), periodontal pocket (> 4 mm) (n = 0,31; 95%CI: 0,01–0,08), having visible dental biofilm (OR = 7,23; 95%CI: 3,19–16,41) and a higher level of blood sugar (glucose) (n = 1,98; 95%CI: 1.00–3,92). CONCLUSIONS tooth loss was associated with HL when adjusted by health behaviors; when sociodemographic variables and clinical conditions were included, it was less significant. In the final model, behaviors, determinants in health and clinical conditions were risk indicators of tooth loss, showing the multifactorial nature of this phenomenon.

Abstract This study aimed to assess the reliability and validity of Brazilian-Portuguese versions of the Health Literacy in Dentistry (HeLD) scale in a sample of elderly Brazilian participants. HeLD was initially translated into and cross-culturally adapted to the Brazilian Portuguese language. The reliability and validity of HeLD were then assessed in a sample of 535 non-institutionalized older persons who also completed a questionnaire containing sociodemographic and health information. Data were then randomly separated into two sub-datasets, and Confirmatory Factor Analysis was performed through structural equation modelling, with a maximum likelihood estimate to test the fit of the data to the factor structure of the long-and short-form HeLD (HeLD-29 and HeLD-14) versions of the instrument. The models were compared using the Akaike Information Criterion to assess goodness-of-fit and to determine which models were preferred. Internal consistency of HeLD was evaluated using Cronbach´s coefficient α. Both versions of HeLD were observed to demonstrate high internal reliability (Cronbach´s α ≥ 0.87 for all seven subscales), acceptable convergent (estimates of ≥ 0.50 for AVE and ≥ 0.70 for CR) and discriminant validity. However, the goodness-of-fit of the confirmatory factor analysis models demonstrated satisfactory results only for HeLD-14 subsamples (x2/df = 1.8–2.3; CFI = 0.97–0.98; GFI/NFI = 0.98–0.99; RMSEA = 0.05 and SRMR = 0.03). In conclusion, HeLD-14 was shown to be a reliable and valid instrument to measure oral health literacy in elderly Brazilian participants.