Ramseier Christoph A, Leiggener Isabelle, Lang Niklaus P, Bagramian Robert A, Inglehart Marita R
Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, University of Michigan, 1011 N. University Avenue, Ann Arbor, Ml 48109-1078, USA.
Oral Health Prev Dent. 2007;5(1):19-24.
To evaluate the outcomes of short (15 minutes) oral hygiene vs. hand hygiene education for preschool children 4 weeks after these interventions.
Sixty-one preschool children (age range 4-6 years) attending four kindergarten classes participated in a 15-minute health education programme on the importance of body cleanliness for general health. In addition, specific instructions on oral hygiene were provided for two randomly selected classes (30 children), while the remaining two classes (31 children) were given instruction of hand and nail cleaning. The oral hygiene status was assessed usingthe plaque control record (PCR). The cleanliness of the hands and fingernails was determined using a hand hygiene index (HHI) and a nail hygiene index (NHI). All three parameters were assessed before the intervention as well as 4 weeks thereafter.
Four weeks after education, the PCR had improved for all children from 79.95% to 72.35% (p < 0.001). The NHI had improved from 74.91% to 61.71% (p < 0.001). In addition, the mean PCR of the children given oral hygiene instruction decreased from 83.67% to 72.40%, while the mean PCR of the children given hand and nail cleaning instruction decreased from 76.23% to 72.29% (interaction effect 'time x type of instruction': p = 0.044). Girls' PCR improved significantly more than boys' PCR (Girls, 80.98 vs. 69.71; boys, 78.33 vs. 75.31; p = 0.021).
The results of the study show that even a short, school-based educational intervention at an early age may affect children's oral health promotion significantly. Teachers should, therefore, be encouraged to educate children from an early age about oral hygiene promotion.
评估针对学龄前儿童进行为期15分钟的口腔卫生教育与手部卫生教育干预4周后的效果。
61名年龄在4至6岁、就读于四个幼儿园班级的学龄前儿童参加了一场为期15分钟的关于身体清洁对总体健康重要性的健康教育项目。此外，随机挑选的两个班级（30名儿童）接受了口腔卫生的具体指导，而其余两个班级（31名儿童）接受了手部和指甲清洁的指导。使用菌斑控制记录（PCR）评估口腔卫生状况。使用手部卫生指数（HHI）和指甲卫生指数（NHI）确定手部和指甲的清洁程度。所有三个参数在干预前以及干预后4周进行评估。
教育4周后，所有儿童的PCR从79.95%改善至72.35%（p < 0.001）。NHI从74.91%改善至61.71%（p < 0.001）。此外，接受口腔卫生指导的儿童的平均PCR从83.67%降至72.40%，而接受手部和指甲清洁指导的儿童的平均PCR从76.23%降至72.29%（交互效应“时间×指导类型”：p = 0.044）。女孩的PCR改善明显多于男孩的PCR（女孩，80.98对69.71；男孩，78.33对75.31；p = 0.021）。
研究结果表明，即使是早期在校进行的短期教育干预也可能对儿童口腔健康促进产生显著影响。因此，应鼓励教师从小就对儿童进行口腔卫生促进教育。
