Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40604702›Full record

ArticleBMC oral health2025

Nurses' role in oral healthcare: a descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study in northeastern Iran.

Mohammadreza Askari, Mohammad Rahimkhani, Masoud Abdollahi, Ali Mohammadabadi, Hamideh Yaghoobi, Mohammad Namazinia

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC oral health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Mohammadreza AskariDepartment of Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh, Iran. m.r.askari70@gmail.com.
Mohammad RahimkhaniDepartment of Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh, Iran.
Masoud AbdollahiDepartment of Medical Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Ali MohammadabadiDepartment of Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran.
Hamideh YaghoobiDepartment of Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh, Iran.
Mohammad NamaziniaDepartment of Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh, Iran. mnamazi99@gmail.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundOral health is a vital component of overall health, particularly for hospitalized patients who are at higher risk of oral complications due to factors such as reduced salivary flow, medication side effects, and limited mobility. Nurses play a critical role in providing oral healthcare, yet studies indicate gaps in their knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) in this area. This study aimed to evaluate the KAP of nurses regarding oral healthcare for hospitalized patients in northeastern Iran, a region with limited healthcare resources.

methodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in 2023 among 112 nurses working in three hospitals in Torbat Heydarieh, northeastern Iran. Data were collected over a two-month period using a convenience sampling method and a validated questionnaire assessing knowledge (11 items), attitudes (16 items), and practices (8 items). The questionnaire underwent face and content validation, and its reliability was confirmed through a pilot study (Cronbach's alpha > 0.8). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16, with descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and correlation analysis.

resultsThe mean scores for knowledge, attitudes, and practices were 7.01 ± 1.47 (out of 11), 31.58 ± 4.93 (out of 80), and 4.31 ± 1.05 (out of 8), respectively. Significant correlations were found between knowledge and attitudes (r = 0.279, p < 0.01) and attitudes and practices (r = 0.149, p < 0.01). Nurses with higher education levels and more work experience demonstrated better knowledge and attitudes, though these did not always translate into improved practices. Male nurses had significantly higher knowledge scores than female nurses (p = 0.021).

conclusionsThe study highlights moderate knowledge, positive attitudes, and suboptimal practices among nurses regarding oral healthcare. The weak correlation between knowledge, attitudes, and practices suggests that improving oral healthcare requires not only education but also institutional support and resource availability. Given the relatively limited sample size and the use of convenience sampling, caution is advised when generalizing these findings to other populations. Targeted training programs, interdisciplinary collaboration, and systemic changes are recommended to enhance oral healthcare practices in hospitals.

trial registrationNot applicable.

Indexed as

Health Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeNurse's RoleOral HealthAdultAttitude of Health PersonnelCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansIranMaleMiddle AgedSurveys and QuestionnairesAttitudesHospitalized patientsKnowledgeNortheastern IranNursesOral healthcarePractices

Identifiers

PMID40604702
PMCPMC12225076

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.