Short Communication
Self-adimnistered use of fluoride among Danish chocolate workers POUL ERIK PETERSEN Institute for Community Dentistry and Graduate Studies, Royal Dental College, Copenhagen, Denmark
Petersen PE: Self-administered use offluorideamong Danish chocolate workers. Scand J Dent Res 1990; 98: 189-91. Abstract - In a group of 82 dentate chocolate workers (71% of sample) 61% reported to rinse with 0.2% NaF at least once a month; 75% responded positively to the use offluoridein prevention of oral occupational disease. The use of fluoride was dominant among the dentally motivated workers. Thus, professionally applied fiuoride should be considered for less motivated high risk groups. Key words: dental attitudes; dental knowledge; fluoride; industrial dentistry; oral occupational disease. Institute for Community Dentistry and Graduate Studies, Royal Dental College, 20-Norre Alle, DK-2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark. Accepted for publication 13 November 1989.
Recent Danish studies have shown that chocolate workers run a risk of oral occupational diseases because of a high level of sugar dust, in the work environment (1). Several initiatives with respect to oral health promotion among workers in the sugar and confectionary industries have now been taken (2). In 1988, a fluoride rinsing and health education program was estabhshed at a chocolate factory. The purpose of this report is to evaluate the use of self-adtninistered fluoride and the attitudes to fluoride among the workers.
Study population and methods All workers at a chocolate factory (Nordchokolad A/S) were offered fortnightly fluoride rinsing
(0.2% NaF) as part of a health education program. After 1 yr, 82 dentate workers (response 71%) responded to self-administered questionnaires on dental health behavior, knowledge, and attitudes. The variables were measured on ordinal scades and additive indices on knowledge and attitudes were constructed (2). Frequency distributions and Spearman correlation coefficients were used to analyze tbe data.
Results and Discussion The attitudes to fluoride are illustrated in Table I. Three percent of the workers reported rinsing weekly, 37% fortnightly, and 21 % every month, while 40% seldom or never participated in the fluoride program.
190
PETERSEN Table 1 Chocolate workers distributed according lo responses on statements about fluoride (n — 82)
Agree I often discuss fluoride with my safety group member I often discuss fluoride with other workers You get work-related dental disease even if you use fluoride Fluoride counteracts dental decay Fluoride is a good idea for prevention of work-related dental disease Fluoride has an unpleasant taste It's a problem to rinse with fluoride Fluoride is harmful and should be forbidden Rinsing udth fluoride is a safety precaution Fluoride toothpaste is a good idea Information on fluoride is needed Fluoride has no effect on the teeth
Fluoride toothpaste was used by 93%; 37% brushed their teeth more than twice a day, 49% twice a day, whereas 14% brushed seldom or never. Toothbrushing at work twice a day was claimed by 6%, once a day by 12%, 61% brushed irregularly, and 21% never brushed at work. Daily consumption of chocolate at work was mentioned by 41 %, 20% consumed several times a week, 17% once or twice a week whereas 22% seldom had chocolate at work. The associations between dental behavior, knowledge, and atti-
Don't know Disagree
12 14 16 86
19 13 47 12
69 73 38 3
75 17 10 1 60 80 67 3
23
1 67 77 78 8 3 8 73
16 13 21 32 17
25 25
tudes are given in Table 2. To conclude, compared to Swedish findings (3) a high percetitage of the workers participated in the fluoride program. However, the use of fluoride in the prevention of oral occupational disease seems dominant among workers with a positive dental behavior profile. Professionally applied fluoride (e.g. 2% NaF) should be considered for the high risk group of workers with negative detital attitudes, frequent consumption of chocolate at work and irregular toothbrushing habits.
Table 2 Spearman correlation, coefficients between variables m dental health behavior, attitudes, and knowledge (n = 82) !
1. Frequency of toothbrushing 2. Toothbrushing at work 3. Consumption of chocolate at work 4. Use offluorideat work 5. Attitude to fluoride 6. Attitude to prevention 7. Value of teeth 8. Knowledge about dentai disease
1.00 0.57***
2
3
4
5
6
7
1.00
-0.21* 0.27** 0'.16 -0.11 0.20
-0.04 0.38** 0.10 -0.07 0.11
1.00 -O.!5 -0.10 0.01 0.12
1.00 044*** 0.19 0.16
1,00 0.50*** 0.38***
1.00 0.38***
1.00
0.02
0.04
-0.06
0.13
0.41***
0.48***
0.35***
*F
Self-adimnistered use of fluoride among Danish chocolate workers POUL ERIK PETERSEN Institute for Community Dentistry and Graduate Studies, Royal Dental College, Copenhagen, Denmark
Petersen PE: Self-administered use offluorideamong Danish chocolate workers. Scand J Dent Res 1990; 98: 189-91. Abstract - In a group of 82 dentate chocolate workers (71% of sample) 61% reported to rinse with 0.2% NaF at least once a month; 75% responded positively to the use offluoridein prevention of oral occupational disease. The use of fluoride was dominant among the dentally motivated workers. Thus, professionally applied fiuoride should be considered for less motivated high risk groups. Key words: dental attitudes; dental knowledge; fluoride; industrial dentistry; oral occupational disease. Institute for Community Dentistry and Graduate Studies, Royal Dental College, 20-Norre Alle, DK-2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark. Accepted for publication 13 November 1989.
Recent Danish studies have shown that chocolate workers run a risk of oral occupational diseases because of a high level of sugar dust, in the work environment (1). Several initiatives with respect to oral health promotion among workers in the sugar and confectionary industries have now been taken (2). In 1988, a fluoride rinsing and health education program was estabhshed at a chocolate factory. The purpose of this report is to evaluate the use of self-adtninistered fluoride and the attitudes to fluoride among the workers.
Study population and methods All workers at a chocolate factory (Nordchokolad A/S) were offered fortnightly fluoride rinsing
(0.2% NaF) as part of a health education program. After 1 yr, 82 dentate workers (response 71%) responded to self-administered questionnaires on dental health behavior, knowledge, and attitudes. The variables were measured on ordinal scades and additive indices on knowledge and attitudes were constructed (2). Frequency distributions and Spearman correlation coefficients were used to analyze tbe data.
Results and Discussion The attitudes to fluoride are illustrated in Table I. Three percent of the workers reported rinsing weekly, 37% fortnightly, and 21 % every month, while 40% seldom or never participated in the fluoride program.
190
PETERSEN Table 1 Chocolate workers distributed according lo responses on statements about fluoride (n — 82)
Agree I often discuss fluoride with my safety group member I often discuss fluoride with other workers You get work-related dental disease even if you use fluoride Fluoride counteracts dental decay Fluoride is a good idea for prevention of work-related dental disease Fluoride has an unpleasant taste It's a problem to rinse with fluoride Fluoride is harmful and should be forbidden Rinsing udth fluoride is a safety precaution Fluoride toothpaste is a good idea Information on fluoride is needed Fluoride has no effect on the teeth
Fluoride toothpaste was used by 93%; 37% brushed their teeth more than twice a day, 49% twice a day, whereas 14% brushed seldom or never. Toothbrushing at work twice a day was claimed by 6%, once a day by 12%, 61% brushed irregularly, and 21% never brushed at work. Daily consumption of chocolate at work was mentioned by 41 %, 20% consumed several times a week, 17% once or twice a week whereas 22% seldom had chocolate at work. The associations between dental behavior, knowledge, and atti-
Don't know Disagree
12 14 16 86
19 13 47 12
69 73 38 3
75 17 10 1 60 80 67 3
23
1 67 77 78 8 3 8 73
16 13 21 32 17
25 25
tudes are given in Table 2. To conclude, compared to Swedish findings (3) a high percetitage of the workers participated in the fluoride program. However, the use of fluoride in the prevention of oral occupational disease seems dominant among workers with a positive dental behavior profile. Professionally applied fluoride (e.g. 2% NaF) should be considered for the high risk group of workers with negative detital attitudes, frequent consumption of chocolate at work and irregular toothbrushing habits.
Table 2 Spearman correlation, coefficients between variables m dental health behavior, attitudes, and knowledge (n = 82) !
1. Frequency of toothbrushing 2. Toothbrushing at work 3. Consumption of chocolate at work 4. Use offluorideat work 5. Attitude to fluoride 6. Attitude to prevention 7. Value of teeth 8. Knowledge about dentai disease
1.00 0.57***
2
3
4
5
6
7
1.00
-0.21* 0.27** 0'.16 -0.11 0.20
-0.04 0.38** 0.10 -0.07 0.11
1.00 -O.!5 -0.10 0.01 0.12
1.00 044*** 0.19 0.16
1,00 0.50*** 0.38***
1.00 0.38***
1.00
0.02
0.04
-0.06
0.13
0.41***
0.48***
0.35***
*F
