scholarly journals An Exploratory Qualitative Study of Parents’ Views on a School Oral Health Program

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  

Introduction: School-based oral health programs enhance the oral health knowledge, practices and attitudes of children by employing oral health education, promotion, prevention, treatment and/or referral services to reduce the prevalence of oral diseases among school children. Periodic evaluation of School Oral Health Programs is essential to assess the impact of the program, its effectiveness, acceptability and to promote quality improvement. Objective: To explore the parents’ views on Asnani (My Teeth) School Oral Health Program. Materials and Methods: This descriptive, exploratory, cross sectional study was conducted among parents of children in public primary schools of Qatar, who had participated in Asnani (My Teeth) School Oral Health Program. Primary data on parents’ views, experiences, opinions and suggestions towards Asnani School Oral Health Program was obtained utilizing open-ended questionnaires. Thematic analysis was employed for the organization of the rich descriptive data, while deriving at themes which convey the explicit and implicit interpretation of the data collected. Results: Qualitative responses from 359 parents revealed five principal themes i.e. Perceived value, Reinforcement of Oral Health Education and Promotion, Frequent dental check-ups, Continuity of care and Additional school-based activities. Conclusion: Perceptions of parents regarding the Asnani School Oral Health Program disclosed in this study provide valuable insights about their acceptability of this school based oral health program. The results are also encouraging as the parents realize the importance of oral health for their children and recommended need for reinforcement of the oral health education and promotion.

2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 99-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Folake B. Lawal ◽  
Juliana O. Taiwo

Background Providing evidence for institution of school-based oral health promotion programs is paramount in developing countries, due to increasing unmet dental needs impacting on quality of life of children. Aim To evaluate oral health knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) of pupils in a country lacking formal school oral health promotion. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1,297 pupils in randomly selected primary schools in one city. Information on oral health KAP were obtained using interviewer-administered questionnaire. Responses to questions were graded, standardized, and data analyzed using SPSS. Results The mean age was 10.6 (±1.7) years. Mean KAP percentage scores were 18.1 (±5.0)%, 18.3 (±4.9)%, and 17.3 (±12.8)%, respectively. Older age, male gender, and previous dental consultations were significantly associated with higher KAP scores. Those who had been educated informally about oral health had higher mean KAP scores ( p = .013, p < .001, and p < .001, respectively). Previous oral health education and consultation with dentists were significant predictors of higher oral health practice scores. Conclusion Poor oral health KAP exists among the pupils. Those who had consulted the dentist or had oral health education had better KAP. These findings reinforce the need for formal school-based oral health promotion.


2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 51-56
Author(s):  
Shitanshu Malhotra ◽  
Pallavi Singh ◽  
Himangi Dubey

Background: Oral health education, as a part of oral health promotion, has been considered as essential and basic part of dental health services.School provides a perfect setting for health education programmes aiming to control the growing burden of oral diseases and to promote oral health. Aim: To determine the impact of oral health education on oral health knowledge and practice among 15 year old school going children of government high schools in Lucknow city. Design: The schools were selected by simple random sampling method following the lottery method of selection. These classes have children of 15 years of age. Each class has two to three sections, and these sections were chosen for the purpose of data collection. Children were selected by simple random sampling technique. Results: The oral health knowledge and awareness of all children improved significantly after the education. Statistically significant increase in the proportion of correct responses was noted following the programme especially in relation to Q2, Q6, Q7, Q9 and Q10. Conclusion: The information, which children receive and the awareness that is created during the programme in school, contributes to the first tentative steps to forming their attitudes and beliefs, which may later lead to healthier choices.    


2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 189-196
Author(s):  
Ece Eden ◽  
Melis Akyildiz ◽  
Işıl Sönmez

This study evaluated the effectiveness of two school-based oral health education (OHE) programs on the oral health knowledge and behavior and oral hygiene of 9-year-old children in Turkey. The study included 1,053 school children aged 9 years in Aydin, Turkey. This study was a prospective, two-arm, and parallel-group clinical trial between two different OHE programs. The dentist group received one lecture on OHE given by dentists in the classroom. The teacher group had a similar lecture given by school teachers, including supporting materials which were available throughout the academic year. Oral health knowledge and behavior were evaluated with a questionnaire at baseline, and then at 1 and 6 months. In total, 110 students were randomly selected to undergo a plaque accumulation assessment according to the Silness–Löe Index at baseline and 1 month later to determine the effects of the education programs on oral hygiene. At baseline, tooth-brushing frequency was similar in the study groups. Compared with baseline, the frequency of brushing increased significantly after 1 and 6 months in both groups ( p < .001). Teacher education was more effective for teaching correct brushing techniques ( p < .001). A significant decrease in plaque accumulation has been evaluated in both study groups at the 1-month examination after the education session ( p < .05). Both OHE programs were found to generate improvements in knowledge and behavior of children on oral health and plaque control in the short term.


Author(s):  
Vy Thi Nhat Nguyen ◽  
Takashi Zaitsu ◽  
Akiko Oshiro ◽  
Tai Tan Tran ◽  
Yen Hoang Thi Nguyen ◽  
...  

We have evaluated the impact of a school-based intervention on oral health knowledge, behaviours, and oral health status of adolescents in Vietnam. This 6-month study included 462 adolescents aged 12 years from four selected schools in Hue City, Vietnam. The intervention group received a 15-min lecture by a dentist and hands-on session on mouth observation and toothbrushing skills. The control group did not engage in any educational activities during the follow-up period. Data were collected at baseline and 6 months through a survey questionnaire and clinical examination. The Debris Index was used for dental plaque; the Papillary, Marginal, Attached gingiva index for gingivitis; and the Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth index (World Health Organization modification) for dental caries. Difference-in-difference analysis was used to compare changes between the groups. After 6 months, the control tended to show decreased toothbrushing frequency and increased dental plaque accumulation. The participants in the intervention group showed improved oral health knowledge (p < 0.01), behavior (p < 0.05), and hygiene (p < 0.001) compared to the control group. However, the intervention did not improve dental caries and gingivitis. A single school-based oral health education program can help adolescents improve oral health knowledge and prevent the deterioration of short-term oral health behavior and hygiene.


2015 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 277-283 ◽  
Author(s):  
RA Jaime ◽  
TS Carvalho ◽  
GC Bonini ◽  
JCP Imparato ◽  
FM Mendes

Objective: This 3-year retrospective controlled clinical trial assessed the effect of a school-based oral health education program on caries incidence in children. Study design: A total of 240 students, aged 5 to 7 years, from two public schools in Monte Sião, Brazil, were included in this study. A school-based oral health education program was developed in one of the schools (experimental group), including 120 students, while the 120 students from the other school did not participate in the program (control group). All children were initially examined for dental caries (dmf-t), and after 3 years, 98 children from the experimental group and 96 from the control group were again examined and answered a questionnaire on oral health issues. The between-groups difference in caries incidence on permanent teeth was calculated using Poisson regression analyses. Logistic regression was used to observe the association between caries incidence and other variables. Results: More students from the experimental group stated knowing what was dental caries and declared that they use dental floss daily, but no significant differences in caries incidence was observed between the experimental and control groups. Conclusion: The school-based oral health education program is not adequately efficient to decrease caries incidence after three years, but some issues about oral health knowledge could be slightly improved.


2005 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 266-271 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth M. Brown ◽  
Daryl Canham ◽  
Virginia Young Cureton

A high prevalence of dental caries in the pediatric population is a major health problem. At highest risk are low-income minority groups, including refugee and immigrant populations. Consequences of oral disease include pain, difficulty eating and speaking, poor school performance, and poor self-esteem. Parent involvement in oral health education is crucial. This program provided oral health education for Latino immigrant parents in a northern California school district. A pretest–posttest was administered to measure changes in oral health knowledge and reported oral health behaviors following two sessions of oral health education. This program provides a framework for school nurses who are in an ideal position to implement similar programs that address the oral health needs of the pediatric population, particularly those of the Latino immigrant community.


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