The effectiveness of an Oral Health Care Program on Self-efficacy, Dental Knowledge and Dental Caries Preventive Behaviors among Secondary School Students
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Abstract
Background: Dental caries remains significant to the health-related quality of life among early adolescents.
Objectives: This quasi-experimental study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an oral health care program on dental knowledge, self-efficacy, dental caries preventive behaviors, the debris index, and the oral hygiene skill achievement index.
Materials and Methods: The sample consisted of 81 students from grade 7 of Bangkratum-pittayakom school. Forty students were assigned to the experimental group and received the dental health program based on self-efficacy, while 41 students were assigned to the control group and received a traditional dental health education. Data were collected by self-efficacy questionnaire, dental health knowledge, dental health preventive behavior, recording the debris index, and the oral hygiene skill achievement index. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, independent t-test, and paired sample t-test.
Results: After finishing the oral health care program, the experimental group had higher mean scores for dental knowledge, self-efficacy, and dental caries preventive behavior, while the oral hygiene skill achievement index increased significantly compared to the control group (p < 0.001, 0.05, 0.05, 0.001). In addition, the debris index score was significantly lower than in the control group (p < 0.001). Furthermore, for the experimental group, the mean scores of dental knowledge, self-efficacy, dental caries preventive behavior, and the oral hygiene skill achievement index increased significantly following the intervention (p < 0.001, 0.05, 0.05, 0.001), while debris index score was significantly lower than before the intervention (p < 0.001).
Conclusion: The result of this study indicated that the dental health program improves dental health knowledge, self-efficacy, dental health preventive behavior, and oral hygiene skill, and decreases the debris index. Moreover, a longitudinal study should be carried out to monitor the sustainability of oral health behaviors.
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References
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