Effect of school-based oral health awareness lecture on knowledge, attitude, and practice toward oral health among primary school teachers of barara, Ambala, Haryana

Abstract

Aim and objective: To assess the knowledge and its correlation with their attitude and practices regarding oral hygiene and to evaluate the effect of oral health education on their knowledge, attitude, and oral hygiene practices. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted on 80 primary school teachers in Barara, District Ambala, Haryana. A self-administered, pretested close-ended questionnaire comprising 20 questions regarding oral health knowledge, attitude, and practice was assessed before and after the dental awareness lecture. Results: The knowledge of primary school teachers was found to be inappropriate but a statistically highly significant increase in this knowledge with p value <0.001** after the lecture was observed. With an increase in knowledge, the attitude toward dental health changed with a p value 0.022* thus changing their regular dental practices which were when assessed after 15 days, the scores were highly significant with p value <0.001**. Conclusion: Oral health knowledge was lacking among the primary school teachers though there was a considerable increase in knowledge and change in attitude and practices after the awareness lecture. Clinical significance: A significant increase in knowledge and change in attitude and oral hygiene practices was observed after the conveyance of the lecture. Thus, arranging for such awareness lectures could be beneficial for controlling oral diseases.