Oral health promotion for school children

Project # 1: Developing resources for oral health promotion of adolescents (2005)

Aims or brief descriptions
Service evaluation data collected by DHSV has shown a decline in the oral health status of adolescents and that the Youth Dental Program is under-utilised. As part of collaborative project established by DHSV, focus groups were conducted with young people to establish their views in relation to their oral health and service use, and to contribute to the development of an oral health promotion program. This project was part of a multi-level intervention designed to raise awareness of oral health with adolescents and encourage the use of the Youth Dental Program. Oral health fact sheets for use by secondary school nurses, youth workers and dental clinicians and postcards for young people were developed containing key messages based on the data from the focus group interviews. These were evaluated using focus groups and telephone interviews.
Findings
Evaluation showed that the use of pictures related to appearance were preferred on the postcards and that the fact sheets were appropriate for use as a tool for promoting oral health.
Involved organisations
Bachelor of Oral Health Science Student Research Report, University of Melbourne
Amica Blake,
Vanessa Campbell,
Sarah Johnston,
Rachael Dankert,
Joanne Nelson
Contact person for further information

Dr Julie Satur (Project Supervisor)
Senior Lecturer, Head Oral Health Therapy
School of Dental Science, The University of Melbourne
720 Swanston Street, Melbourne, 3000, Australia
Phone direct: 03 9341 1530
Email:  juliegs@unimelb.edu.au

Project # 2: Life course influences on dental caries in 5-year-olds

This project was funded in July 2004 by Channel 7 Children’s Research Foundation of SA Inc. A prospective cohort study of 550 children involves collaboration with Departments of Public Health and Obstetrics and Gynaecology as well as the SA Dental Service.
Contact: