Effects of Oral Health Promotion Program Applying Sense of Coherence among Elders in Kumpawapi District, Udon Thani Province

Abstract

This quasi-experimental research aimed to investigate the effects of an oral health promotion program applying the Sense of Coherence (SOC) theory among the elderly in Kumphawapi District, Udon Thani Province. The sample consisted of 80 participants, divided into an experimental group (n = 40), which received the SOC-based oral health promotion program, and a comparison group (n = 40), which received conventional dental health education. The intervention lasted 6 weeks. Data were collected using general information questionnaires, oral health care behavior assessments, the 13-item Sense of Coherence scale (SOC-13), and oral health status clinical examinations. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests for categorical data, and Independent t-tests or Mann-Whitney U tests for comparing mean differences between groups based on data distribution.

Post-intervention, the experimental group showed significantly better mean scores for SOC, oral health care behavior, Debris Index, and Gingival Index compared to the comparison group (p-value <0.05). Specifically, the experimental group’s mean scores exceeded those of the comparison group by 5.04 points (95% CI: 0.22, 10.31) for SOC, 3.10 points (95% CI: 1.12, 5.08) for oral health care behavior, 1.1 points (95% CI: 0.84, 1.35) for Debris Index, and 1.15 points (95% CI: 0.90, 1.39) for Gingival Index. The SOC-based oral health promotion program effectively enhanced SOC, oral health care behavior, and oral health status among the elderly.

The program enabled participants to better understand their health conditions and strengthened their belief in managing oral health problems to achieve improved well-being.