Diabetes and oral health (DiabOH) : the perspectives of general medical, oral health and nursing professionals in the management of diabetes and periodontitis in China

Background: Diabetes and periodontal disease are highly prevalent conditions in China. Both have a bilateral causative relationship. Research suggests that interprofessional collaboration can improve care delivery. However, there continuesto be little interprofessional care in the management of these diseases. The DiabOH project aims to develop a sustainable interprofessional diabetes and oral health care model. This paper reports on Phase 1 of the project that is carried out in Shanghai, China. Aim/Objectives: To explore the knowledge, experience and perspectives of Chinese medical, oral health and nursing professionals on the management of diabetes and periodontitis and on interprofessional collaboration in the primary health care setting in China. Methods: A mixed methods approach is used. A total of 150 medical, oral health and nursing professionals (50 in each group) from community health centres in Shanghai will be recruited to participate in quantitative online surveys about their knowledge and experience in diabetes and periodontitis management, diabetesscreening, periodontitis screening and interprofessional care. Sixty respondents (20 in each group) will be selected to participate in follow-up qualitative semi-structured interviews to further explore their perspectives. Quantitative data will be analysed for descriptive statistics and qualitative data will be thematically analysed. Findings: Participant recruitment and data collection are currently underway in Shanghai. Preliminary results will be presented at the AAAPC Conference. Implications: Increased understanding of health professionals' perspectives will inform the development of a sustainable model for interprofessional diabetes and oral health care in China and globally.