Oral Health Education in Nursing Training Programs in Germany

Oral Health in Nursing Education: A Nationwide Survey on Teaching Content, Competencies, and Needs in Vocational Schools and Primary Qualifying Nursing Degree Programs in Germany

This study aims to assess the current state of oral health education in nursing training programs in Germany. Good oral health is an important component of general health, yet it is often insufficiently addressed in nursing practice and education.

This cross-sectional study uses self-developed standardized online questionnaires to collect data from educational leaders (such as school directors and program coordinators) as well as nursing trainees and students.

The survey examines how oral health topics are integrated into curricula, which content is taught, how teaching is delivered, and how learners assess their own competence and educational needs in this area.

The results of this study will provide a comprehensive overview of current practices and help identify gaps and opportunities to improve oral health education in nursing programs.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Nursing Education; Health Education; Oral Health Care; Oral Health Education

Detailed Description

This study is a cross-sectional observational survey designed to assess the current state of oral health care education in nursing training programs in Germany.

Oral health is an important component of overall health and is particularly relevant in the care of dependent and vulnerable populations. However, previous research suggests that oral health care may not always be consistently addressed in nursing practice and that there is variability in knowledge and practical competence among nursing staff.

The study aims to systematically evaluate how oral health care content is integrated into vocational nursing training programs and primary qualifying nursing degree programs. In particular, the study examines the extent and structure of curricular integration, the range of topics covered, teaching and assessment methods, and structural conditions such as available resources and interprofessional collaboration.

Data are collected using self-developed standardized online questionnaires administered once to two groups: educational leaders (e.g., school directors and program coordinators) and nursing trainees or students. Educational leaders provide information on institutional and curricular characteristics, while learners provide information on their exposure to oral health education, perceived competence, practical experience, and educational needs.

The study is conducted nationwide across Germany using a non-probability sampling approach. Participation is voluntary and anonymous. No interventions are applied, and no follow-up assessments are conducted.

The results of this study are intended to provide a comprehensive overview of current educational practices and to identify gaps and opportunities for improving oral health care education in nursing training programs.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 7600

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Jana Biermann, Dr. med. dent.; Phone Number: 00495513960888; Email: jana.biermann@med.uni-goettingen.de

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population consists of individuals involved in vocational and academic nursing education programs in Germany. This includes educational leaders, such as school directors, curriculum coordinators, and program leads, as well as nursing trainees and students enrolled in primary qualifying nursing programs.

Participants are recruited nationwide through nursing schools and higher education institutions offering nursing training or degree programs. Educational leaders provide information on curricular structures, teaching content, instructional methods, and institutional characteristics related to oral health care education.

Nursing trainees and students provide information on their exposure to oral health education, perceived competence in oral health care, practical experience, and educational needs.

Only adults aged 18 years or older who are able to understand German and provide informed consent are included.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age ≥18 years
• Educational leaders (e.g., school directors, curriculum coordinators, or program leads) in vocational nursing schools or primary qualifying nursing degree programs in Germany- OR
• Nursing trainees enrolled in vocational nursing training programs in Germany, OR
• Students enrolled in primary qualifying nursing degree programs in Germany
• Ability to understand German
• Provision of informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Age <18 years
• Not belonging to one of the defined target groups
• Inability to understand the German language sufficiently to complete the questionnaire
• No provision of informed consent

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Educational Leadership Group; This group includes educational leaders involved in nursing education programs in Germany, such as school directors, curriculum coordinators, and program leads in vocational nursing schools and primary qualifying nursing degree programs. Participants complete a self-developed standardized online questionnaire assessing curricular integration, teaching content, instructional methods, and structural conditions related to oral health education.
Learner Group; This group includes nursing trainees and students enrolled in vocational nursing training programs or primary qualifying nursing degree programs in Germany. Only participants aged 18 years or older are included. Participants complete a self-developed standardized online questionnaire assessing exposure to oral health education, perceived competence in oral health care, practical experience, and educational needs.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Curricular Integration of Oral Health Care Content Assessed by a Self-Developed Questionnaire	Curricular integration of oral health care content will be assessed using a self-developed standardized online questionnaire completed by educational leaders. Participants select one of three categorical response options: = explicitly included as a separate topic/module; = integrated into other topics/modules; = not included/no specific content The categories describe the type of curricular integration of oral health care content and do not represent a validated numerical scale.	Day 1
Extent of Theoretical Oral Health Care Teaching Assessed by Questionnaire	Measured using a self-developed standardized online questionnaire completed by educational leaders. Participants report the approximate extent of theoretical teaching on oral health care using teaching units, European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS), or semester hours. Responses are reported using predefined categorical ranges for teaching units, European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) credits, or semester hours.	Day 1
Learner Exposure to Oral Health Care Education Assessed by Questionnaire	Measured using a self-developed standardized online questionnaire completed by nursing trainees and students. The item assesses whether participants have received oral health care education during their training or study program. Response categories are: yes, multiple times; yes, once/briefly; or not yet/cannot remember. Higher exposure categories indicate more frequent exposure to oral health care education.	Day 1
Self-Reported Competence in Oral Health Care Assessed by Likert-Scale Questionnaire	Measured using a self-developed standardized online questionnaire completed by nursing trainees and students. Participants rate their perceived ability to perform appropriate oral care for a person in need of care on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 to 5, where 1 indicates very low perceived competence and 5 indicates very high perceived competence. Higher scores indicate higher self-reported competence.	Day 1

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Coverage of Oral Health Care Topics Reported by Educational Leaders	Measured using a self-developed standardized online questionnaire completed by educational leaders. Participants rate the extent to which predefined oral health care topics are taught using a 3-point categorical response scale: not covered, briefly covered, or covered in more detail. Categories describe increasing levels of topic coverage.	Day 1
Coverage of Oral Health Care Topics Reported by Learners	Measured using a self-developed standardized online questionnaire completed by nursing trainees and students. Participants rate the extent to which predefined oral health care topics were covered during their education using a 4-point categorical response scale: not at all, briefly, rather extensively, or very extensively. Categories describe increasing levels of perceived topic coverage.	Day 1
Self-Reported Ability to Recognize Oral Abnormalities Assessed by Likert-Scale Questionnaire	Measured using a self-developed standardized online questionnaire completed by nursing trainees and students. Participants rate their perceived ability to recognize oral abnormalities requiring medical or dental assessment on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 to 5, where 1 indicates very low ability and 5 indicates very high ability. Higher scores indicate greater perceived ability.	Day 1
Educational Need for Additional Oral Health Care Training Assessed by Likert-Scale Questionnaire	Measured using a self-developed standardized online questionnaire completed by nursing trainees and students. Participants rate their agreement with statements regarding the need for more practical exercises and theoretical content using a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). Higher scores indicate greater perceived need for additional training.	Day 1

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University Medical Center Goettingen

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): May 6, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 30, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 7, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): May 13, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 13, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 7, 2026
• Last Verified: May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Behavior; Treatment Adherence and Compliance; Health Behavior; Patient Compliance; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Adherence Interventions; Medication Adherence; Health Education
• Other Study ID Numbers: 11/2/26

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No