Title:
Oral Health Promotion Program in the Border Patrol
Police Schools in Songkhla Province
Oral Health Promotion Program in the Border Patrol
Police Schools in Songkhla Province
Author(s):
Samerchit Pithpornchaiyakul, Wirat Eungpoonsawat, Walee Chukhadee, Pataraporn Yongstar, Nongnuch Arkasuwan
Keyword(s):
attitude, dental knowledge, oral health promotion, plaque score
Abstract:
The aims of the present study were to compare the dental knowledge, attitude and
plaque score of students in Border Patrol Police Schools via a community participation of
teachers, students and other networks. This study was a participatory action research using
a quasi-experimental technique. Three schools were purposive sampled. Thungsabaijai
and Baroey Border Patrol Police school students were identified as the experiment group,
while students in Sangwanwit primary school were in the control group. Sixty students,
stratified by class grade 1-2, 3-4 and 5-6, were randomly selected from those schools.
Each school conducted different activities of community participation of teachers, students
and other networks for three years. The results showed that students, grades 1-2 in the
experimental group had significantly greater knowledge than the control group. Students in
grades 1-2, 3-4 had in the experiment group significantly better attitude than the control
group. Moreover, students in the experimental group had statistically significantly lesser
mean plaque score than the control group (p < .05). In conclusion, oral health promotion
and prevention of oral diseases in the Border Patrol Police schools via a community
participation of teachers, students and other networks were successful in changing the
behavior of students. The important factors for behavioral change were the participation of
school administrators, health teachers and school teachers. In addition, parents should be
encouraged to continuously participate in the oral health activities in their children’s schools.