Professional Documents
Culture Documents
PREVENTION PROGRAM.
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Jordan is a small developing country with expected inhabitants of around 5.8 million
citizens. Like other developing countries, Jordan has experienced a significant increase of its
population, with children and adolescents forming a big portion of its total population.
Schools provide an ideal environment for promoting oral health, internationally around 80%
of children go to primary schools and 60% complete at least four years of education, and the
school years cover a period that runs from childhood to adolescence (WHO, 2003). These are
significant periods in individuals lives when enduring sustainable oral health related
behaviors, as well as beliefs and attitudes are being developed (WHO, 2003).
School student’s health is one of the most considerable fields in community health,
oral health enables a person to eat, speak and socialize without pain or active disease.
life, and it can affect general health conditions. Oral health means more than healthy teeth, its
also mean the health of the gums; oral soft tissues; chewing muscles; the palate; tongue; lips,
and salivary glands (US Department of Health and Human Services, 2000).
Oral health among school students is very important because students who have poor
oral health can have an unfavorable effect on their performance in school and their success in
the future. Children who experience poor oral health are 12 times more likely to have more
restricted-activity days including missing school than those who do not (US General
Accounting Offices; Oral health, 2000). In addition, good oral health of school student's will
be better for being still healthy in the future. Locally, Many Jordanian schools students
experience needless pain and suffering, complications that can impact overall health (Taani.Q,
2004).
Consequently, leaving oral care and untreated oral diseases become more
problematical over time and may impact aspects of physical and mental health. School health
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deals with a wide range of health problems, such as: accidents, injuries, communicable
diseases, substance abuse, smoking, dental problems, violence, and psychological problems.
Dental caries (tooth decay) is the most common childhood chronic disease and dental
care is a common unmet need among Jordanian schools students. It affects over 50% of
school-aged children and adolescents (MOH, 2002). The school oral health services
health programs for children. Therefore, all Jordanian school children should have their teeth
examined regularly (MOH, 2002). The target population for the application of the school-
based oral health promotion and prevention program is 12-16 year old age students of the Ibn
Al-waleed School in Irbid city; School's population consists of (1142) male students.
Problem Assessment
Oral health among school students and adolescents was considered broadly in western
literature; but there are few studies that discussed or described oral health in Jordan. One
study specifically discussed oral health in Jordan, has carried out by Quteish Taani, which
titled “Oral health in Jordan” This study described oral care in Jordan with references such as
the prevalence and severity of dental caries, oral lesions, periodontal diseases and oral
hygiene status. The findings of this study revealed about 21% of males and 51% of females
brush their teeth regularly, while more than 50% of males and only 11% of females did not
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brush their teeth at all. In addition, 57% of private school children and 35% of public school
In an integrated literature review regarding oral health in Jordan, plaque and gingival
scores were founded to be higher among public school children than private and it’s higher in
males than females (Taani.Q, 2002; Taani.Q & Al-Wahadni AM, 2003). And other related
studies carried out in Jordan between 1993-1997 showed that dentals caries experienced
varies between genders but slightly higher among boys, and children attending in public
schools had similar scores to those attending private schools (Witt MCR,1992; Bastawi, et
al,1989). In general, boys had higher plaque and gingival scores than girls and the
occurrences of shallow and deep pockets in these children were low (0.3–5.3%).
Al-Omiri et al. (2006) examined oral health attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors
among Jordanian children, for purpose which titled “Oral Health Attitudes, Knowledge, and
Behavior Among School Children in North Jordan”. The purpose of this study was to
investigate the dental health attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors of school children in north
Jordan; A 570 students were participated randomly from 10 public schools in irbid governate;
from 570 questionnaires were distributed to the total participants a 557 questionnaires were
The study sample was included 262 males (47%) and 295 females (53%); and the
participants age ranged from 10-16 years; the mean age was 13.45 years. The comprehensive
questionnaire was used as a instrument to collect data from the participants and this
instrument was adopt from Peterson et al; this instrument included 33-items designed to
evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of children regarding their oral health and
dental treatment. (Kappa test coefficient for all items was 0.93).
The findings of this study revealed that the 69% of students brushed their teeth at
least twice daily; 17% students reported irregular tooth brushing; 83% reported using
toothbrush and tooth past to clean their teeth; only 2% reported using dental floss; 6% using
mouth wash, and 7% using tooth picks as an extra aids for oral hygiene. In addition, 71% of
students reported they consume 2 minutes to brush; while 15% consume < 1 minute.
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Regarding to the parent roles in the oral healthcare; the result was showed that 59%
of their roles focused to giving advice on the importance of teeth brushing; only 26% of the
students reported being advised and watched by parents during brushing technique; 15% of
students reported that their parents never watched their brushing technique and don't gave
them any advise on brushing; and around 40% reported that brushing and flossing assists to
prevent gingivitis; and when the students were asked about the relation between dental plaque
& gingivitis on one hand, and caries & tooth discoloration on other hand; only 13% of
students answered it might cause caries, and 25% answered it might cause tooth
discolorations and about 28% were failed to report relation between plaque and any of these
conditions.
Consequently, related to carious teeth a 75% of students were reported have it and
77% were aware that it and dental caries affect dental aesthetics. On other hand, the students
awareness related to the significant of tooth brushing for caries prevention was 81% and only
32% were aware of the relation between dental plaque and caries; related to the numbers of
deciduous and permanent teeth only 2.7% of students knew the correct number of deciduous
teeth and 54% were knew correct number of permanent teeth and 91% reported having two or
Additionally, 68% of students reported that they did not know what the treatment for
toothache; although 60% acknowledged the significant of such knowledge; 87% of student
aware about the sweet and 77% aware that soft drink have a negative effect on dental health
and 77% aware that a fluoride has positive effects on the dentition. Consequently, 47% of
students that they visited dentist only when they become on pain; 33% were regular dental
attendees and 82% were aware of the importance of regular dental visit, and about 20% of
students were never visited the dentist. Only 14% of parents encouraging their children to
visit the dentist and the most common causes of not doing students to visiting the dentist were
49% for fear; 21% for lack of toothache; and 12% for high cost.
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oral education programs among Jordanian schools, and indicated on the importance of
Other study intended to oral health knowledge, attitudes was conducted by Petersen
P.E (2003) which titled "oral health knowledge, attitudes and behavior of children and
adolescent in china" the purposes of this study were to describe the pattern of oral health
behavior, illness behavior, oral health knowledge and attitudes among 12-18 year old Chinese.
The result of this study showed 44.4% of the Chinese children brushed their teeth at
least twice a day but only 17% used fluoridated tooth paste. And they visited the dentist
during the previous 12 months or two years were 31.3% and 35.3% for 12 year olds and
22.5% for 18 year olds, respectively. 29% of 12 years olds and 40.5% of 18 year olds would
visit a dentist in case of signs of caries but only when in pain and 47.2% had never received
any oral health care instruction and the risk of dental caries was high in the case of frequent
consumption of sweets and dental caries was low for children with use of fluoridated
Although an improvement in oral hygiene, gingival conditions and dental caries has
been reported recently in children, the prevalence of these conditions is still high compared to
that found in the developed countries. Dental caries in US, it is five times more frequently
than childhood asthma, and named it the most chronic disease among children and seven
times more common than fever (US Department of Health and Human Services, 2000;
2002).The prevalence of gum diseases in school students is very high, for example, 90% of 12
years old in Portugal have signs of gum disease that required treatment (Mexica de Almeida,
C., 2003).
Other studies revealed that a considerable number of children have limited knowledge
of the causes prevention of the most common oral disease (Petersen. P.E, 2003).Furthermore,
School-based oral health promotion program in Australia shows that the use of a setting
approach in promoting oral health can lead to oral health benefits (US Department of Health
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and Human Services, 2000). In Jordan, Ministry of Health reports revealed that the
prevalence rate of oral disease is more than 70% among schools' students.
Cultural beliefs and values plays a significant role in the perception of the causes of
oral health problems such as dental decay and gum diseases, also many children were not
familiar with the threats and susceptibility of oral health diseases. Furthermore, some students
were not familiar with the relationship between diet and oral health diseases and a high
Thus, oral health promotion and prevention program become an important program
for promoting oral health among school's students, and it can be easily improving by adopted
and incorporated into daily routines, such as: daily tooth brushing, good dietary pattern and
enhance cultural awareness, knowledge and attitudes of Jordanian children and parents
Before performing a complete assessment for the educational need for Ibn Al-Waleed
School students, it’s essential to gain permission and support of the health education program
for oral health and prevention program. An official approval of Irbid Education Directorate
for the program will be gained. Formal and informal communication with the stakeholders in
different directorate and association which will participate in conducting the program will be
done, and a planning committee of experts and decision makers will be established. A
comprehensive approach to improve oral health and prevent oral diseases assures integration
1. Understand the nature of the oral health problems among Jordanian schools students.
3. Design, plan, implement and evaluate oral health promotions interventions as a part
Planning Model
To address the oral health problems and diseases issue among school students into
Marshall Kreuter for health education and health promotion programs. Its overriding principle
is that most enduring health behavior change is voluntary in nature. This principle is reflected
motivation, and skills and active engagement in community affairs to improve their quality of
life.
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students) identify their needs, wants, resources, and desired quality of life. Students who
have similar needs assessment in social assessment phase, should feel empowered to
improve their current level of oral health and all individuals who have abilities to exert
influence and control over students must ask them about what they need to be successful
administrators, teachers, staffs and parents; the purposes, objectives, times, strategies and
valuable information of this program and assessed with them; the school students
behaviors, knowledge about the causes and prevention of the oral diseases and their
eating attitudes; and their perception about the significant of oral health condition and
dental treatment and their oral hygiene habits such as tooth brushing; and their parents’
role in the oral hygiene habits; lifestyle skills that their taken to promote oral health of
their children;. From these social assessments the planners revealed that the most of the
Ibn-Alwaleed school students have poor oral health status and need to increase their
knowledge about oral health, because they are unfamiliar with the healthy oral behaviors
and most of their foods consist of high sugar such as chocolate, chips, and Cola; and their
populations suffered bleeding gums on brushing; and the incidence of both dental caries
and gingivitis in Jordan school children was found to be higher than that of school
conducted in Jordan revealed that the 80% of north Jordan school children visited the
3. Behavioral and environmental assessment phase: This phase focuses on the systematic
identification of oral health practice and other related factors which appear to be linked to
identify oral health problems among school students by identifying the behavioral and
environmental correlates to student’s oral health and diseases. Behavioral correlates; during
this phase the program planners assessed the school students oral health behaviors included
brushing activity such as the frequency; duration; time; and brushing aids that contribute to
oral health and diseases; and the planners revealed that most of the school students have
unhealthy behaviors related to teeth brushing because they reported that they do irregular
tooth brushing daily and they did not brush their teeth at similar time during the day; and
most of their school food consumption contain excess sugars such as gums, cola, and
chocolates.
Environmental correlates: are social and physical factors that support student’s oral health
and prevent oral diseases which include: advertising for certain types of foods, media
influences, peer influences, parent influences, and attitudes; during this phase the program
planners assessed the parents role in students oral hygiene; dental education; and dental visit
such as regularity of visit the dentist; reasons behind the dentist visit; effect of toothache on
dental attendance; and the planners revealed that a very small percentage of students reported
that their parents giving them advice related to the importance of dental visit and using florid
toothpaste; and educate them about the ideal brushing technique to promote their oral health
status; on other hand, the majority of the school students did not receive any advice from their
parents related to oral health; and most of the students reported visited the dentist only when
they become on teeth pain, and the toothache was the driving factor for their visits.
In addition, some students said that they fear from the dentist treatment and they can't
visit dentist regularly because it's very costly. On other hand, related to the healthy food types
in the school canteen, they said that most of the canteen food contains high sugar; and its have
a very negative impacts on oral health condition; and most of students said that their peers
consume the same types of this food (such as cola, and chocolate.)
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4. Educational and ecological assessment phase: the purpose of this phase is to identify
predisposing, reinforcing, and enabling factors that increase the probability that the
a) Predisposing factors: Individual's factors that influence the Student's behavior such as:
knowledge to guide food choices, attitudes about oral health, believes, personal
preferences, and existing skills related to oral health. During the analysis of the students
predisposing factors; the planners revealed that the majority of the school students
knowledge and awareness have that the teeth brushing and flossing help to protect and
prevent their teeth plaque and gingivitis; and they did not know the proper treatment of
toothache, but they knew that the sweet foods and soft drinks have a negative impacts on
their oral health condition; in addition, the majority of students believes that the dentist
provides suitable care and explained dental procedures and prevention instructions when
they visit him; and around half of them knew the correct numbers of teeth during
childhood and adulthood periods; and they have bad skills such as insert solid tool to their
b) Reinforcing factors: include factors that reward or reinforce, motivate and incentives or
ability/skills for continued healthy behavior such as social support, praise, direct benefits
and the reinforcing behaviors can be delivered by the family, peers, friends, teachers, self,
The assessment includes: peer norms, approval of eating habits and setting (social
reward), lack of role models, parental attitudes (food rewards), cultural factors (Foods
preparation). During this phase the planners reported that the majority of the students did not
received any rewards or incentives from their parents, teachers or friends for maintaining their
motivation to change student’s behavior; during this phase the planners will assess which
rewards or motivations that could be support school students for attend and be able to gain
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cost-effective outcomes from this program. Also assess any factors that support change in the
end, the providers will assess barriers as student's perception toward socioeconomic status;
5. Administrative and policy assessment phase: This phase focuses on the administrative and
school concerns which must be addressed prior to oral health promotion and prevention
program implementation. During this phase the planners assessed the school capabilities,
policies, and circumstances; and existing school situation that could hinder or facilitate the
development of the oral health program; and they assessed the available resources in the
school that may assists in the implementation of the program like the educational curriculum,
data show and computers room were available in this school; equipments training availability;
and responsible people for implemented the program lectures. And should identify the school
PROCEED Phases:
6. Implementation phase: For this phase, the program planners will select the most
appropriate methods and strategies of the program interventions according to the appropriate
resources in their hand; and the school-based oral health promotion and prevention program
will be schedule for three month's period, in order to allow all school students to participate
procedures obtained during the implementation of the school-based oral health and prevention
This program depends on the actual educate and training of school children to increase
their knowledge, behaviors, attitudes, and skills about the good oral healthcare. During this
phase each step in this program will be review such as program goals, objectives and
strategies; determine whether the necessary resources are available to conduct the evaluation;
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budget for additional cost; hire an evaluator, if needed, and review data collection and data
school-based oral health promotion and prevention program on school students leading to the
intended outcomes of a program. In this program, if students are increased their knowledge,
awareness, attitudes, skills and behaviors of good oral health, they must be able to show the
9. Outcome evaluation: If the school-based oral health promotion and prevention program will
be institutionalized in this community, more and more school students will be included, and then the
program planners will be able to evaluate the outcomes by following up the monthly oral health
report in Jordan to observe the possible decline oral health problems among Jordanian school
students.
The proposed period for planning is one month. Planning includes gaining the permission and
support from the health and education directorates, preparing materials, instruments, place, and
Oral health program can be an effective program for construct a school’s capacity to plan and
implement many of strategies and interventions in health promotion. The critical steps to consider in
planning school based oral health promotion and prevention program are:
A school health team should be consists of individuals who are committed to work
collaboratively to encourage and promote the oral health of all students who are studying and
learning at school such as students, parents, teachers and school staff, school governors, PTA
representatives, administrators, food service providers and healthcare providers. The school health
team should be given authority, power, time, resources and support to guide and manage oral health
In addition to the community advisory committee should be consists of leaders who are
interested in oral health and health promotion, knowledgeable and influential to the community, and
have capability to direct, advice and provide support to the target population (Students). They
recognize the key oral health related issues affecting the school and community, have access to
resources that can contribute to oral health promotion and have a significant influence on creating a
helpful atmosphere for oral health. Committee members play a critical role in encouraging the
relationships between the school and the community at large and they have a good authority to
Situational assessment:
The significant of the situational assessment is to support the development of oral health
promotion effort, conducting by policies, community commitment, teachers and school staff,
decision makers and interested groups. The situational assessment involves the gathering and
analysis data related to oral health from different sources, the school health team and community
advisory committee can establish the local planning process by conducting the situational
assessment. The purpose of the situational assessment is to assess the resources, needs and
circumstances that are relevant to the planning and development of school–based oral health
• The policy, decision makers with verification to support their strategies about oral
resources location.
• Precise up-to-date data that can be used for planning, rationalization, discussion,
interventions.
Before planning and implementation of oral health promotion and prevention interventions, it is
important to assess and analysis the present oral health conditions and key oral health problems of
school students, compared with those of regions and country; the information should include the
• Present health and oral health condition of school children and adolescents.
• Behaviors and other key factors related oral health and problems.
• Existing activities and programs in school and the local community, as well as
interaction.
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• Physical, cultural, political, social and economic factors that support or hinder the
Policies and guidelines from the health, education, agricultural of government sectors are
essential to the implementation of the school-based oral health program such as: safe water and
sanitation policy, oral hygiene policy, infection control policy, oral health education within the
school curriculum policy, smoking and tobacco use policy, and alcohol policy. Furthermore, the
development and influences of the oral health interventions depend on the level of support from the
local community; Community contribution is mainly essential to ensure that the issue is addressed
health programs, managing oral health interventions with other actions in the community, public
acknowledgement of the significance of the oral health by community leaders and other related
associations, directing local resources for oral health promotion interventions and use of media.
between health, education, food and agricultural sectors of the government and between the school
and the community are essential in planning policy. For example, school teachers, parents, and
students are involved in the planning, development and feedback process, the school health team
and community advisory committee meet periodically to evaluate the development and maintain
coordination between the school and community; the school courses includes oral health in the
school health education programmed; school staff get systematic and continuing training in oral
health and prevention of oral diseases. The school canteen, cafeterias serve nutritious foods and
drinks that are contributing to good oral health, School canteen staff and food providers are
The involvement and commitment of parents in oral health interventions are very essential
because they plays as role models and they have directly influence on their children’s by providing
a home environment that is contributing to oral health, Their participation in monitoring children’s
oral hygiene practices and dietary behaviors at home. Parents and other significant family members
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should be educated about the importance of oral health, consequences of oral diseases and
Vision of the program: Achieving optimal oral health for all Jordanian school students, thus
Mission of the program: Improve the oral health of Jordanian school students through
Objectives:
1) To collect data about the students' knowledge, awareness, behaviors, skills, and beliefs
2.a ) To inform the students about oral health problems and its indications.
2.b ) To elucidate the healthcare behaviors regarding good oral health status.
3.a ) To identify the prevalence of oral health problems and dental decay among the school
students.
3.b ) To detect the students' oral diseases and make referral if necessary.
Theoretical foundation
The Health Belief Model (HBM) developed in the early 1950s by a team of social psychologists
at the U.S; provides a framework for illustrating the causes that some individuals who are not risky
take action to avoid illness, while others fail to take such protective actions. Another purpose of the
HBM was to expect what are the circumstances under which individuals would engage in simple
The HBM suggests that individuals must make a decision that the behavior creates a serious
health problem, before an individual takes an action, and that he/she is personally susceptible to this
behavior harm and the moderating or changing the beneficial, the perceived barriers to assume a
behavior are considered most significant to health promotive effort (Roden, 2004).
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Perceived susceptibility and perceived severity to behavior harm are based to a large extent on
the individual's knowledge, awareness, and attitudes toward health problems, and its potential
outcomes (Nexoe et al., 2002). The model deal with "the cues of action" that promote the decision
making process about performing the target behavior. Consequently, perceived susceptibility to and
severity of harm give the force for action, and the perception of high benefits and low barriers give
a course of action which is the cause of the action that start the process of change.
HBM is congruent with the school-based oral health promotion and prevention program
purpose and interventions. The identification of school students’ knowledge, awareness, behaviors,
and attitudes can be used to identify their readiness to carry out healthy behaviors and lifestyles
To join in the preventive actions, the individual should recognize and believe that:
his/her life.
4. There is a barrier, from taking actions for oral healthcare practices such as
Implementation Phase
School-based oral health promotion and prevention program was implemented as required for
Planning and Evaluation of Health Programs (NUR 732) course. The goal of this program is to
"increase perception of the significance of oral health as a component of overall health for the
attitudes, and beliefs were used. These interventions educate the school students about the
susceptibility, threats, cost, and the benefits of good oral healthcare. These valuable information are
supposed to begin the school students "cues of action" to apply recommended oral healthy practices
regarding good oral healthcare. The primary assessment represents the foundation for developing
the implementation plan which leads the program planning, implementation, and evaluation. The
Objective (1):
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1. To collect data about the students' knowledge, awareness, behaviors, skills, and
Strategies:
1.a ) Distribute questionnaire to assess the students' knowledge, awareness, behaviors, skills,
and beliefs.
Resources needed:
• Healthcare providers such as dentist and nurses, questionnaire papers, pencils, data
Indicator of Success:
• Strengths and weaknesses points regarding student's knowledge, attitudes, skills and
Objective (2):
2.a ) To inform the students about oral health problems and its indications.
2.b ) To elucidate the healthy behaviors regarding good oral healthcare status.
Strategies:
2.b ) Video Tapes shows about behaviors of good oral healthcare were done.
2.c ) Distribute leaflets and brochures regarding recommended oral health behaviors.
Resources needed:
Indicator of Success:
Objective (3):
3.a ) To identify the prevalence of oral health problems and dental caries among the school
students.
3.b ) To detect the students' oral diseases and make referral if necessary.
Strategies:
3.a ) Examine students oral health condition by health care providers (dentists).
3.b ) Document the results of oral examination procedures in students' health files.
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3.c ) Determine the prevalence of certain oral health problems among students.
3d.) Referral students who have acute oral health problems to the dentist.
Resources needed:
• Dentist, nurses, oral examination tools, oral diagnostic procedures such as dental
screening.
Indicator of Success:
• Early detection of student's oral health problems and diseases were achieved.
Action Plan
1. Recognize the student's knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, skills and believes regarding oral
healthcare. The recognized information will assist in determining the student’s characteristics
regarding perceived risks of the oral health diseases, perceived susceptibility of having oral health
problems such as dental decay and gingivitis, perceived advantages of performing recommended
healthy behaviors regarding good oral healthcare, also it will provides guidance for the lectures
a) Contribution of Irbid general health directorate, school health directorate, the health
care center, religious affairs in the school-based oral health promotion and prevention
program interventions.
Center. They will provide pamphlets, leaflets, brochures, and video tapes regarding
oral healthcare.
educational oral healthcare materials; prepare leaflets and brochures regarding good oral
health care behaviors and practice; Lectures regarding signs and symptoms of oral health
problems; the role of bad nutrition such as sweet food in oral health problems and diseases;
and the correct tooth brushing technique; Video tapes show to emphasize certain
recommended healthy behaviors regarding good oral healthcare and communicate knowledge
The school-based oral health promotion and prevention program is a non-profit program,
and mainly will be financially supported by the some sponsors concerned oral healthcare. The
following table represents the proposed planned budget for this program.
Income Amount
:Contribution from sponsors
1000 JD
• Irbid General Public Health
Department – MOH.
Developmental Services.
:Gifts 950JD
• Private Clinics.
Total 8500JD
Expenses Amount
Equipment 900JD
Curriculum materials 2500JD
:Personnel
800JD
1.For Planning. 400JD
2.Program Facilitators. 400JD
3.Clerical. 650JD
4.Evaluators.
:Marketing expenses
500JD
• Print advertising materials 1500JD
• Mass Media
Supplies 300JD
Transportation cost 250JD
Incentives school students 300JD
Total 8500JD
Marketing of the school-based oral health promotion and prevention program require
providing good products to the target audience (school students) for involving them in the
program activities; this program promotes oral health activities designed to reinforce oral
health practices and to help prevent oral health problems such as dental decays, and gum
disease among Jordanian school students. These activities focus on provide education and
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prevention strategies to all Jordanian school students to promote their oral health and risk
reduction oral activities to reduce the occurrence of oral health problems among them. The
school-based oral health promotion and prevention program identifies oral health resources
available for local health departments and collaborates with the oral health community, public
& private schools, local health departments, families and others concerned with oral health
promotion activities.
The program planners can market their program among school students through many
ways such as offer free open day dental screening for all students; dental screening may help
to build a positive attitude among Jordanian students on the part of oral health. And it may
encourage student's parents to schedule dental examinations for their children; and the
valuable information from the dental screening may suggest topics of the health education
program that could be enhanced. In addition, effective and efficient of the oral health
program marketing can also be enhanced by collaborating with the internal agencies such as
the quality improvement and continues education departments through design oral health
training programs and marketing materials for medical professionals and their staff; school
administrators and teachers; parents and caregivers, students, advocates, and other
stakeholders to learn oral health assessment tools and oral diagnostics procedures to improve
On other hand, the planners can improve audience involving through using mass
media channels by advertising the significance of oral health as a part of overall health
through radio, TV (ex. compose songs appropriate for school students), newspapers, medical
journals, magazines; oral health posters, stickers, and oral health messages will disseminated
in all community places. Finally, the planners can market their program through disseminate
report about the goals, strategies, and outcomes of the program to the sponsors and target
Two types of program evaluation process formal and informal were conducted to
establish the efficient and effective of the school-based oral health promotion and prevention
program, and to change the program goals, and objectives according to the desired outcomes.
The indicators of the program success should considered students participation rate in all
steps of the program; school involvement, increasing the students knowledge, awareness,
behaviors, attitudes, skills, and believes regarding to their oral healthcare, and increase the
assessed through the different steps of the program, it indicated by the related parties
approved to participate in the program. The response rate of school students on the pre-test
students, Identifying the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of student’s lifestyle
On other hand, the impact evaluation was assessed by make a comparison between
the pre-test and post-test findings of the oral healthcare questionnaire. The school students
reported a high level of knowledge and awareness about the risks, symptoms and significance
of oral healthcare, in addition to a positive change in their attitude and skills toward changing
their everyday life behaviors. Moreover, it assessed through the message of the significance
of the program, which was accepted and communicated by the school students and other
community agencies.
improvement in the students everyday life behaviors, from the school administration, through
providing healthy food in school canteen and cafeteria. Finally, outcome evaluation will be
assess after sixth months from the school administration to discover if the school students
continue perform the recommended healthy behavior which they acquired from their
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involvement in the oral health program interventions. Finally, the informal evaluation
assessed through observation assessment for the participants support through debating in the
program lectures, and their concentration or attention toward the lectures presenters, which
mean that the oral health program lectures were effective and efficient.
Oral health issue is considered as a globally health problem, locally in Jordan like
globally , Ministry of Health reports revealed that the prevalence rate of oral health diseases is
more than 70% among schools' students. Consequently, Oral health among school students is
very important because students who have poor oral health can have an unfavorable effect on
Related to the studies about this issue among school students, there are few studies
that discussed this issue in Jordan. This program focused on the knowledge, behaviors,
attitudes, skills and lifestyles of students for the contributing factors of the oral health
problems and diseases. Moreover, the roles of the students parent, teachers and their peers in
increasing this issue. Finally, the program committee planning suggested that the oral health
study to expose the spreading of such issue. This work need to the support and collaborative
References:
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