Transforming Periodontal Health Literacy and Behavior through Education: A Quasi‐Experimental One‐Group Pre‐Post Study

OBJECTIVES: Knowledge, attitudes, practices, and awareness (KAPA) regarding periodontal health may influence patients' periodontal status and their responses to screening and education by dental students. However, limited research has examined how specific KAPA domains relate to periodontal health outcomes or how socio-demographic factors influence these domains. This study aimed to (i) compare adult patients' KAPA levels related to periodontal health before and after screening and education by dental students, (ii) examine correlations among KAPA domains, and (iii) assess how patients' socio-demographic profiles relate to their KAPA. METHODS: A quasi-experimental one-group pre-post study was conducted among 93 adult patients with periodontal disease using an online self-administered questionnaire distributed before and after screening and education on KAPA. Statistical analyses included the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, correlation analyses, Mann-Whitney U, and Kruskal-Wallis tests. RESULTS: Education provided by undergraduate dental students improved patients' knowledge and practices related to periodontal health. Among the KAPA domains, a significant positive correlation was observed only between attitude and awareness. These outcomes were influenced by patients' gender, residential area, household income, educational level, and smoking status. CONCLUSION: Patient education can enhance oral health literacy and preventive behaviors; tailoring interventions to individual patient characteristics may further optimize periodontal health outcomes.