Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of oral health education program on the oral health knowledge, oral health behavior and oral hygiene status of elementary school students. The design of this study is nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest gesign. Data was collected between the 17th of June and 13th of July in 2002, and the Experimental group were 131 students of Y Elementary School, which was one of the two elementary schools in K City, Gyeongsangbuk-do, and the control group was 140 students of C Elementary School, which was similar to Y Elementary School in geographical and economical properties and size. As for research tools, the researcher developed tools of measuring oral health knowledge and oral health behavior by modifying the tools developed by Hye-Kyong Kim (2001), In-hyang Seo (1988), Ho-Youn Lee (2001), Hyeon-ja Jeon (1998). To measure oral hygiene status, the researcher applied a coloring agent to the surface of the teeth after brushing, rinsed the mouth, and calculated colored plaque on the surface of the teeth, which was recorded on a sheet and analyzed using the plaque index. The data analysis was done using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, Chi-square test, t-test, ANCOVA, Two-way ANOVA, Simple main effects, One-way ANOVA, and Duncan. Using with SPSS WIN 10.0. The result of this study are summarized as follows : 1. The hypothesis was supported "The elementary school students which was given oral health education program will shows higher oral health knowledge, oral health behavior, oral hygiene status then control group" 2. According to the result of verifying the hypothesis, "The effect of oral health education program will be different between junior and senior" the hypothesis was partly supported To summarize result of this research, the experimental group, to which oral health education was given, was improved in oral health knowledge, oral health behavior and oral hygiene status compared to the control group. so the oral health education program was effective for the oral health of elementary school students.