Effect of oral health education by audio aids, braille, tactile models on the oral health status of visually impaired adults: a 6-month follow-up study

BACKGROUND: Oral and dental health education is typically delivered using visual methods on jaw models. However, these methods are insufficient for individuals with visual impairments. This study aims to contribute to the oral and dental health of visually impaired adult individuals through specially designed educational methods incorporating audio guidance, Braille, and tactile models. The objectives of the study are to assess the oral health profile of visually impaired individuals, to develop an oral and dental health education model using tactile and auditory materials, to improve oral health through this training, and to evaluate whether visually impaired individuals benefit from the education provided. METHODS: A questionnaire on oral hygiene habits was administered to 37 visually impaired adult individuals in a clinical setting. Following clinical examination, their oral health profile was assessed using the plaque index, gingival index, and OHIP-14. Subsequently, oral health education was provided through a combination of audio guidance, Braille, and tactile model-based methods. The training and clinical evaluations were repeated at the 1st, 3rd, and 6th months to monitor changes over time. Statistical analyses were conducted using IBM SPSS 27. Normality was assessed with the Shapiro-Wilk test and homogeneity of variances with Levene's test. Depending on the distribution, Independent Samples t-test or Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparisons between two groups, and Paired Samples t-test or Friedman test for related samples. For comparisons among three related groups, Repeated Measures ANOVA or Friedman test was applied. Post hoc analyses were performed using Bonferroni correction, and the Marginal Homogeneity test was used for dependent categorical variables. RESULTS: Within-group comparisons across time points revealed statistically significant differences in gingival index (GI), plaque index (PI), and OHIP-14 scores (p < 0.05). According to the Bonferroni-adjusted analyses for GI and PI, statistically significant differences were observed between the 6th-month measurements and those at baseline, the 1st month, and the 3rd month; between the 3rd-month measurements and baseline and the 1st-month measurements; and between baseline and the 1st-month measurements (p < 0.05). Overall, the scores decreased progressively over time. At each follow-up session, both the gingival and plaque indices declined, indicating a statistically significant improvement in oral health status. CONCLUSIONS: Identifying the oral health needs of visually impaired individuals, developing specialized education strategies, and making service delivery accessible are of great importance both for improving individuals' quality of life and for ensuring equity in healthcare.