초등학교 학생의 우식위험평가를 이용한 자기설정목표 접근법의 구강건강증진 효과

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the oral health education by self-set goal approaching in elementary school children classified into groups according to caries risk level.

Method: The subjects (n=170) were children attending of G elementary school in Gwangju, Korea. Subjects and their parents filled out questionnaires on behavior and attitude to self oral care. We conducted an oral examination of children, which included evaluation of tooth and plaque status, and calculated the decayed or filled teeth index and plaque control rate(PCR). PCR values obtained by subtracting O’leary plaque index from 100 (%). We then classified children into groups with moderate or high risk of caries according to American Dental Association caries risk assessment form. We showed students their PCR and plaque images, and they set up their own PCR goals individually in an oral health education procedure. Six months later, we conducted an oral examination again and compared the results of the fist and second examinations.

Results: The mean PCR of the high-risk group (n=116) increased from 28.52p%p to 40.23%p and that of the moderate-risk group (n=54) increased from 31.35%p to 37.00%p. For both groups, the increase was statistically significant (P<0.001). The increase in the mean PCR was significantly higher in the high-risk group than in the moderate-risk group (P=0.034), but the average PCR values of the two groups did not differ significantly (P=0.909).

Conclusion: A self-set goal approach in oral health education was effective for most students, especially in the group with the high caries risk.