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Oral hygiene knowledge of high‐risk Grade One children: an evaluation of two methods of dental health education
Author(s) -
Hawkins Robert J.,
Zanetti Debra L.,
Main Patricia A.,
Jokovic Aleksandra,
Dwyer John J. M.,
Otchere Daniel F.,
Locker David
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
community dentistry and oral epidemiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.061
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1600-0528
pISSN - 0301-5661
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-0528.2000.028005336.x
Subject(s) - medicine , toothbrush , oral hygiene , psychological intervention , hygiene , oral health , health education , dentistry , family medicine , medical education , nursing , public health , brush , pathology , electrical engineering , engineering
– The effectiveness of two methods of dental health education (DHE) for improving oral hygiene knowledge among high‐risk Grade One students was evaluated. Fifty elementary schools in the former City of North York, Canada were assigned to one of two groups. In one group, students received a classroom‐based DHE lesson which was reinforced by two small‐group sessions ( n =243). In the other group, students received only a single classroom‐based DHE lesson ( n =206). After DHE interventions, students in both groups displayed improved knowledge for most oral hygiene questions (e.g., when should you throw your toothbrush away?). However, for several questions, a significantly higher proportion of “classroom plus small‐group sessions” students displayed improved knowledge compared to students receiving only a classroom lesson. These items included: awareness that cavity prevention and removal of germs are two purposes of oral hygiene; and knowledge that teeth help people to eat and talk. Results suggest a classroom‐based lesson combined with small‐group sessions is a more effective method of improving oral hygiene knowledge among high‐risk Grade One students compared to a single classroom‐based lesson.