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Evaluation of an educational activity in the oral health of students
Author(s) -
Barros VJ de A,
Costa S M,
Zanin L,
Flório FM
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
international journal of dental hygiene
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.674
H-Index - 38
eISSN - 1601-5037
pISSN - 1601-5029
DOI - 10.1111/idh.12152
Subject(s) - medicine , oral hygiene , oral health , family medicine , dental floss , school health , oral examination , dentistry , health education , public health , medical education , nursing
Objective To investigate the influence of educational activity in the school environment based on prescriptive and subjective oral health indicators. Methods Cross‐sectional, comparative study involving students between 9 and 12 years of age, from schools that have educational activities and those that do not, designated schools A and B. The oral health indicators used were the Simplified Oral Hygiene Index ( OHI ‐S) and the Community Periodontal Index ( CPITN ). Knowledge and attitudes with regard to oral health were evaluated using a structured questionnaire. Results A total of 289 schoolchildren took part, 50.5% from school A and 49.5% from school B, in the town of Montes Claros, in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. In school A, the schoolchildren's OHI ‐S was satisfactory for 9.6%, normal for 78.8% and deficient for 11.6%, while in school B, the respective percentages were 3.5%, 17.5% and 79% (chi‐squared, P < 0.001). The students in school A showed better CPITN results, namely lack of bleeding for 61.6%, the presence of bleeding for 29.5% and presence of tartar for 8.9%, while in school B, the respective results were 25.2%, 45.5% and 29.4% (chi‐squared, P < 0.001). Students in school A achieved more correct answers in questions that evaluated knowledge of oral health. The account of daily use of dental floss in school A was 21.7% and in B, 3.6% (chi‐squared, P < 0.001). Conclusion It is believed that educational activity in the school environment had a positive effect on oral health conditions, the consolidation of knowledge and incorporation of oral hygiene habits.