Objective:

to analyze oral health care related beliefs among caregivers of the institutionalized elderly in Antofagasta, Chile, 2019.

Material and methods:

A quantitative, observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted. Forty-nine caregivers were interviewed with the DCBS-sp questionnaire to determine their oral health care beliefs. STATA 14® was used to conduct the statistical analysis.

Results:

Of the caregivers interviewed, 36.73% have oral health training, and 97.96% feel they need training. Trained caregivers have significantly better average oral health scores on internal locus of control and self -efficacy.

Conclusions

Caregivers have insufficient oral health training, and there are unfavorable beliefs about the oral health care of the institutionalized elderly. It is necessary to design oral health educational interventions to allow this group of professionals to improve their oral health care related beliefs.

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