A Survey on Oral Health Awareness, Practices, and Educational Needs among Social Welfare Facility Workers

Objective: We examined caregivers’ awareness of the revised social welfare facility evaluation indicators, oral health awareness, attitudes, oral health practice, and educational needs following the 2024 inclusion of oral care as a mandatory evaluation item in South Korea. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 47 staff members working in social welfare facilities in Siheung City. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Kruskal–Wallis tests, and Spearman’s correlation analysis, with a significance threshold of p<0.05. Results: While caregivers showed relatively high levels of oral health awareness, 62.5% of them had received no formal oral health education. The most common barriers to participation were lack of time(28.1%) and manpower(12.4%). The most important educational topics were denture care(26.1%), tooth brushing instruction(18.3%), and dry mouth management. Preferred educational methods were face-to-face lectures and on-site coaching. Oral health awareness correlated positively with good oral health practices and attitudes. In contrast, years of work experience showed a significant negative correlation with oral health attitude (r=–0.410, p<0.01). Conclusions: Although awareness is high, education and practices are insufficient. Structured education programs, institutional support, and regular professional interventions are essential for effective maintenance of oral care standards in social welfare facilities.