“Effectiveness of oral health education on school children aged 13–15 years by dentist and school teacher”

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of dentist educating school children and school teacher educating school children in improving knowledge, attitude and behaviour of school children. Materials and methods: Six schools were selected and were divided into 2 government school, 2 aided school and 2 un-aided school. Each school was selected for dentist to provide oral health education another school was selected for school teacher to provide oral health education. At the baseline knowledge, attitude and behaviour of school children was assessed by questionnaire. Followed by oral health education by dentist to school children and school teacher, followed by school teacher educating school children. After 3 months the knowledge, attitude and behaviour questionnaire was re-assessed using same questionnaire. Results: Dentist educating school children showed statistically significant improvement in the knowledge, attitude and behaviour of school children in all the 3 school. Whereas, school teacher group showed statistically significant improvement in only un-aided school. Government school and aided school showed significant improvement in knowledge score only. Conclusion: Dentist are effective in improving knowledge, attitude and behaviour of school children of all the 3 school. Whereas school teacher are effective in improving knowledge, attitude and behaviour of school children of un- aided school. Keywords: Oral health education, Knowledge, Attitude, Behaviour, School children