Thai Dental Public Health Journal

Causal Relationship Model of the Learning Happiness Among Clinical Dental Students in Higher Education Institutions of Thailand

2024-08-16T10:53:52+07:00

This study aimed to investigate the factors that influenced the happiness of clinical dental students in higher education institutions in Thailand. A total of 368 student samples were randomly selected by multi-stage sampling. Data were collected through the questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, Exploratory factor analysis, Confirmatory factor analysis and Structural equation modelling (SEM) were used for the data analysis. The results indicated that the learning happiness of clinical dental students was influenced by social support and psychological capital (path coefficient of 0.82 and 0.54, respectively). Both variables were able to explain approximately 84.0 per cent of the variance in learning happiness among the samples. Besides, it was found that social support influenced both psychological capital and self-esteem (path coefficient of 0.66 and 0.54, respectively). Furthermore, the data showed that psychological capital had an influence on self-esteem (path coefficient of 0.59). Evidently, social support variables had the most influence on students’ learning happiness, which included support from teachers, family, and friends. Therefore, this factor should be advocated for clinical dental students in terms of emotional support, instrumental and service support, and informational support to ensure that they can study and work happily in a clinic.

The Analysis of School’s Roles on the Oral Health of School Students in Mixed Thai-migrant Primary School under the Concept of Ecological Model: A Mixed-method Study at Ban Hauy-Som School, Chiang Mai

2025-02-11T11:54:59+07:00

The study objective is to describe the school’s roles in students' oral health under the Ecological model. In the school year 2022, a cross-sectional mixed-method study was performed at Ban Huay-Som Primary School, Sanpatong district, Chiang Mai, where the ratio of Thai to migrant students was 1.8:1. The school director and teachers were interviewed for student’s oral health behaviors and school management information while student’s parents were asked to answer the questionnaire about their children’s behaviors at home. The Functional Oral Health Literacy Test was administered to 67 students in grades 4-6. Oral health records showed an increased caries rate in Thai and migrant students compared to the pre-COVID-19 period. Even though 23% of students neglected to brush before bed and 73% frequently consumed unhealthy snacks at home, 100% of them kept brushing their teeth at school every day after lunch, and the oral health literacy score was adequate (x ̅=21.5 ± 2.96). Results from the content analysis showed the school’s roles in students’ oral health as follows; 1) at an individual level, manipulating oral health projects to improve oral health literacy and oral health behavior, 2) at an interpersonal level, motivating teachers’ awareness on students’ oral health, 3) at an organization and policy level: giving precedence to school health promotion policies, 4) at a community level: cooperating with local organizations for oral health services. In conclusion: schools should equally give an opportunity to maintain good oral health for every student.

Study Results of the Oral Health Care Program for Diabetic Patients with Periodontitis Condition Banthi Hospital, Lamphun Province

2025-02-11T16:11:45+07:00

Diabetes is a major global health issue that significantly impacts the quality of life of patients, including effects on oral health. To examine the periodontal condition and the effects of oral healthcare in diabetic patients, the study aimed to compare knowledge scores and oral health care behaviors before and after receiving dental care from dental professionals. The study used a quasi-experimental design with a sample of 51 diabetic patients who had at least 20 natural teeth and periodontal pockets deeper than 3 millimeters, who received care at the diabetes clinic of Banthi Hospital in Lamphun Province. The data collection tools included an oral health care outcome survey and a knowledge test on oral health care. The study was conducted from January to June 2024. Data analysis utilized descriptive statistics and Paired Sample t-Test. The results revealed that the average age of participants was 61 years, with an average weight of 63.9 kilograms and an average blood glucose level of 141.2 mg/dL. Most participants demonstrated inadequate oral health care behaviors, such as not using interproximal cleaning devices and infrequently visiting the dentist. After receiving oral health care from dental professionals, there was a significant reduction in periodontal conditions and a notable improvement in oral health knowledge (p-value < 0.05). In conclusion, enhancing the oral health care program for diabetic patients with periodontitis condition at Banthi hospital, Lamphun province delivered by dental professionals effectively improved the oral health care behaviors and overall oral health of diabetic patients, which may help reduce diabetes-related complications.