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01-12-2020 | Research article

Oral health behavior among school children aged 11–13 years in Saveh, Iran: an evaluation of a theory-driven intervention

Authors: Mahmood Karimy, Peter Higgs, Shaghaygh Solayman Abadi, Bahram Armoon, Marzieh Araban, Mohammad Reza Rouhani, Fereshteh Zamani-Alavijeh

Published in: BMC Pediatrics | Issue 1/2020

Abstract

Background

Good oral health (OH) is essential for physical, social, mental health, and overall quality of life. This study assessed the usefulness of the theory of planned behavior (TPB) in changing oral health-related behaviors among school children aged 11–13 years in Saveh, Iran.

Methods

In this descriptive before and after study, participants were sixth-grade students at single sex primary schools in Saveh city, Iran. We recruited 356 school children in 2019. Using simple random sampling, a male and a female school per district were allocated to the experimental group and the remaining schools to the control group. Our planned oral health education consisted of four one-hour training sessions over 1 week. The first session familiarized the participants with important information about OH. In the second session, we applied a brain storming exercise to identify the benefits and barriers to flossing and brushing. In the third session, a short film about correct brushing and dental flossing technique was shown and research team also used role-playing to correct any mistakes. In the final session students were taught about the importance and the application of OH planning and given forms to help plan for brushing.

Results

Participants for the study included 356 students (180 in the experimental group and 176 in the control group) who completed the post-test questionnaire. The mean age ± standard deviation was 11.55 years ±0.93 in the experimental group and 11.58 years ±1.01 in the control group. After the intervention, the paired t-test indicated a significant difference between the mean and standard deviation of the action plan and coping plan constructs in the experimental group before and after the intervention (p < 0.05). Covariance analysis indicated a significant difference between scores of intervention and control groups under statistical control of post-test in two groups (covariate) after a peer-led education program (post-test) (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

A shortage of professional health workers in education settings together with the ease, usefulness and low-cost of this peer-led method, suggest further steps should be taken to implement it more widely to improve and enhance primary school aged students’ oral health behavior.

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Title: Oral health behavior among school children aged 11–13 years in Saveh, Iran: an evaluation of a theory-driven intervention
Authors: Mahmood Karimy
Peter Higgs
Shaghaygh Solayman Abadi
Bahram Armoon
Marzieh Araban
Mohammad Reza Rouhani
Fereshteh Zamani-Alavijeh
Publication date: 01-12-2020
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: BMC Pediatrics / Issue 1/2020
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2431
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-020-02381-6

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Oral health behavior among school children aged 11–13 years in Saveh, Iran: an evaluation of a theory-driven intervention

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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