Objectives To identify different profiles of oral health literacy among older adults in nursing homes and to explore the relationship between these profiles and oral frailty. Design A cross-sectional study. Methods A convenience sample of 403 older adults living in nursing homes was recruited between September and December 2024. Participants completed a general information questionnaire, the Oral Frailty Index-8, and the Short-Form Health Literacy in Dentistry scale. Latent profile analysis was applied to identify oral health literacy profiles. Logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between oral health literacy profiles and oral frailty. Results Three oral health literacy profiles were identified: ‘low oral health literacy-low understanding group’ (22.1%), ‘moderate oral health literacy-low communication group’ (46.3%), and ‘high oral health literacy-high economic group’ (31.6%). After adjustment for potential confounders, oral health literacy profiles were significantly associated with oral frailty. Participants in the ‘high oral health literacy-high economic group’ had a significantly lower risk of oral frailty compared with the other two groups. Conclusion Oral health literacy among older adults in nursing homes showed significant heterogeneity, with three distinct latent profiles. These profiles were significantly associated with oral frailty. Tailored interventions based on oral health literacy profiles may help delay oral frailty among older adults in nursing homes.
Zhao et al. (2026) studied this question.