Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and periodontal (gum) disease are closely related conditions that may negatively affect each other. However, oral health is not routinely integrated into diabetes self-management education. This study will evaluate whether a structured diabetes-oral health educational intervention based on the Health Belief Model can improve glycaemic control, periodontal health, self-management behaviours, and quality of life among adults with T2DM in Oman.
This multicentre randomized controlled trial will include 290 adults with T2DM. Participants will be randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a control group. The intervention group will receive six individual, structured diabetes-oral health education sessions over 12 weeks in addition to usual care. The control group will continue to receive standard diabetes care and education.
Participants will be followed for 12 months. The primary outcome is change in glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) from baseline to 12 months. Secondary outcomes include periodontal health, diabetes and oral-health self-care behaviours, Health Belief Model constructs, quality of life, psychological well-being, diabetes distress, healthcare utilization, and healthcare costs. The study will also assess the cost-effectiveness of the intervention. Exploratory components will assess previously undiagnosed periodontal disease and examine associations between periodontal changes and the oral microbiome.
Aged 35 years or older.
Confirmed diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), documented in the medical record for at least 12 months.
Able to understand Arabic or English.
Able to provide written informed consent.
Pregnant or breastfeeding.
Cognitive impairment or severe mental illness limiting participation.
Active systemic infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, syphilis, or HIV.
Use of medications that may significantly affect glucose metabolism or gingival health, such as long-term systemic corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, phenytoin, or calcium channel blockers.
Parallel
Health Belief Model-Based Integrated Diabetes-Oral Health Educational Intervention
BehavioralParticipants will receive an individualized Health Belief Model-based integrated diabetes-oral health educational intervention in addition to routine diabetes care. The intervention consists of six individual face-to-face educational sessions delivered over 12 weeks, with each session lasting approximately 30 minutes. The sessions address diabetes and oral health risk awareness, severity and consequences of periodontal disease, benefits of glycaemic control and oral hygiene, barriers to oral health self-care and practical solutions, brushing and interdental cleaning and self-monitoring skills, and maintenance planning and relapse prevention. Each session includes structured educational material, individualized advice, and simple goal-setting.
Standard Diabetes Education and Routine Care
BehavioralParticipants will receive standard diabetes education and routine clinical care provided by existing diabetes services. Routine education includes advice on diet, medication adherence, physical activity, and blood glucose monitoring. Participants will not receive the structured Health Belief Model-based integrated diabetes-oral health educational intervention.
Change in Glycated Hemoglobin (HbA1c) From Baseline to 12 Months
Change in HbA1c (%) from baseline to 12 months will be used to assess the effect of the intervention on glycaemic control. HbA1c will be measured using blood samples processed in a certified hospital laboratory. The between-group difference in change over time will be evaluated.
Change in Probing Pocket Depth (PPD)
Probing pocket depth will be measured in millimeters (mm) using a periodontal probe at six sites per tooth. Mean probing pocket depth will be calculated for each participant. Change in mean probing pocket depth from baseline will be compared between the intervention and control groups. Lower values indicate better periodontal health.
Change in Diabetes Self-Management Behaviors
Diabetes self-management behaviors will be assessed using the Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities (SDSCA) questionnaire. The SDSCA assesses the frequency of diabetes self-care activities over the previous 7 days. Items are scored from 0 to 7 days, with higher scores indicating more frequent performance of the assessed self-care behavior. Change in SDSCA scores from baseline will be compared between the intervention and control groups.
Healthcare Utilization
Healthcare utilization will be assessed as the number of healthcare services used by each participant during the study period, including relevant outpatient visits and other healthcare contacts recorded as part of the study. Healthcare utilization will be compared between the intervention and control groups. Higher values indicate greater healthcare resource utilization.
Change in Oral Health-Related Quality of Life Assessed Using the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14)
Oral health-related quality of life will be assessed using the 14-item Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14). Each item is scored from 0 (never) to 4 (very often), producing a total score ranging from 0 to 56. Higher total scores indicate poorer oral health-related quality of life. The change in total OHIP-14 score from baseline will be compared between the intervention and control groups.
Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.
This trial is not recruiting at the moment. You can still explore other options:
