School Hygiene Instructors’ Knowledge, Attitude and Practice on Oral Hygiene in Primary Schools

Objectives: Hygiene instructors and teachers at schools can have a significant role in oral health promotion of school children specialy in early years at school. In this study knowledge, attitude and practice of school hygiene instructors towards oral health was assessed at the city of Hamadan.
Methods: This cross-sectional analytic study was conducted in Hamadan primary dental schools in 2016. Questionnaires consisted of 49 questions on background, knowledge, attitude and practice in oral health were distributed among hygiene instructors. The knowledge part covered dental anatomy and eruption phases, dental caries, oral preventive care and nutrition related to oral health. The validity and reliability of the designed questionnaire was evaluated and confirmed in a pilot study. Mean, standard deviation and descriptive tables were used for data description and one-sample T-test, one way ANOVA and Pearson correlation were used to analyze data.
Results: In total 30 completed questionnaires were received and the mean age of participants was 40.67± 1.18. Analysis of results demonstrated that mean scores of knowledge (9.66±0.29), attitude (43.8±0.67) and practice (4.3±0.24) were higher than the mean cut-off scale scores of knowledge (9.5), attitude (30) and practice (4) which the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). Positive and Direct statistical significant association was observed between total knowledge and number of hours attended in continuous general health education programs (r=0.43, P <0.05).
Conclusions: According to the findings school hygienic instructors had positive attitude towards oral health education in school children. Also there was direct association between their total knowledge and hours spent in continuous education programs. Therefore design and implementation of a structured and well organized program on oral and dental health of primary school children is highlighted and recommended.