Evaluation of Oral Health Promotion in Elderly Club in Krabi Province, 2010

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the Oral Health Promotion Project for elders in the Elderly  club, Krabi  Province; it covered the following aspects including context, input, process and output. The study was a descriptive research combining quantitative and qualitative methods. The samples were 281 elders who participated in oral health promotion activities of the Elderly club, 67 elders who were in the Elderly club committee and 10 health workers or dental health personnel. Purposive sampling was used to select 8 Elderly clubs. Then simple random sampling was performed for the elders and elders’ committee. For health workers and dental health personnel, purposive sampling was implemented. The research instruments were structure questionnaires for the elders, elders’ committee, and health workers or dental health personnel. Content validity and reliability were tested. Cronbach’s alpha coefficients were 0.968, 0.856 and 0.736, respectively. Descriptive statistics were analyzed in SPSS. Focus group discussion was conducted among the elderly club committee to establish the evaluation aspects as quantitative, then content analysis was performed. The context evaluation showed concordance of the project with the objective of the Elderly club and the elders’ needs. Input aspects included moderate readiness of the Elderly club with an inadequate budget. The process evaluation showed the main activities relating to tooth brushing included material support, oral health education and tooth brushing practice. Moderate participation by health workers and oral health personnel was reported. The outputs showed most of the elders have been good oral health behavior in this project and had high satisfaction. To achieve sustainability and strengthen the oral health promotion among the elders, the Ottawa charter should be promoted and the involvement of local organizations or the government also should be encouraged.