양치시설 여부에 따른 초등학생의 구강환경관리능력 및 구강건강관리 행태 변화

Effect of Toothbrushing Facilities on PHP index and Oral Health-related Behaviors in Elementary schools

Objectives: This study was conducted at a request for cooperation through an analysis of the effect of toothbrushing facilities at a public health center in Seongdong-gu. Also, with the aim of furnishing basic data to the proposal of a program for improving the ability of school aged children in managing oral cavities and developing a correct toothbrushing habit, the study conducted an investigation of how toothbrushing facilities affect change in the oral environment management ability and behavior of oral health care. Methods: From among elementary schools located in Seongdong-gu, Seoul the study selected A Elementary School where toothbrushing facilities were established and have been operated since 2008, B Elementary School in an adjacent region within the jurisdiction of Seongdong-gu where the demographic environment was similar among schools where toothbrushing facilities were newly established in 2012, and C Elementary School without toothbrushing facilities. Then the study was aimed at first grade students of the schools and an investigation was carried out from April to December 2012. Through a dental checkup, the study evaluated the teeth and periodontal health conditions, and a test of the oral environment management ability was undertaken three times. Regarding change of oral health care behavior, the study carried out a self-recording survey. Results: 1. Concerning decayed and filled tooth(dft) and decayed and filled surface (dfs), A Elementary School where toothbrushing facilities have been established and operated from the past showed a relatively lower decayed, missing, and filled teeth index than B Elementary School where toothbrushing facilities were established in 2012 or C Elementary School without toothbrushing facilities; however, there was no significant difference (p>0.05). For CPI, there was no significant difference by school; however, in looking into the difference between boy students and girl students, Code (0) was discovered higher in boy students whereas Code (1) was shown higher in girl students. 2. In the PHP index test in accordance with the existence of toothbrushing facilities before the installation of toothbrushing facilities, for A Elementary School where toothbrushing facilities have been established and operated from the past, the school recorded 4.28 points whereas B Elementary School where the facilities were established in 2012 recorded 3.51 points. Meanwhile C Elementary School without the facilities posted 4.30 points. Therefore there was a statistically significant difference according to the existence of toothbrushing facilities (p<0.05). 3. In a comparison of teeth health care behavior according to the existence of toothbrushing facilities, the number of answers that the respondent did not brush their teeth after lunch over the past one week was higher in B Elementary School and C Elementary School where there were no toothbrushing facilities. Regarding the average number of brushing after lunch for one week, it was discovered higher in A Elementary School (p<0.01). 4. In change of teeth health care behavior before and after the establishment of toothbrushing facilities, the case of answering that the respondents did not brush their teeth after lunch for one week increased more after establishment than before establishment. Also the average number of teeth brushings after lunch for one week decreased further after the establishment of toothbrushing facilities; however, it did not show a significant difference (p>0.05). One of the reasons that they do not brush their teeth, "the lack of a place", decreased significantly after establishment than before establishment (p<0.05), whereas the answer, "because their friends do not brush their tooth" increased greatly after establishment than before establishment; however, there was no significant difference (p>0.05). 5. In the comparison of the degree of knowledge about dental health according to the existence of toothbrushing facilities, the degree of knowledge about dental health was shown significantly higher in A Elementary School with toothbrushing facilities than in B Elementary School and C Elementary School where there were no toothbrushing facilities (p<0.01). Conclusions: Given the above results, it is difficult to attract change in behavior only with an environmental improvement; therefore, it is deemed necessary to develop an educational program that will help children to make a habit of oral health care not only through a school but also through a related policy and financial support of government organizations as well as the construction of the basis of a systematic and consistent cooperative system with relevant organizations.