An Oral Health Promotion Module for the Primary Health Care Nursing Course in Acornhoek, South Africa

Abstract

The severe personnel shortage in the health professions in most developing communities is well documented. This dearth of health workers and the widespread adoption of the primary health care approach (PHCA), requires that health professionals be trained to understand and effectively utilize the skills offered by other disciplines in the health care field. Nurses are expected to play active roles in the promotion of health including oral health, particularly in the rural under-served communities. There is a paucity of oral health education in nursing curricula. This article describes a 4-day module on oral health promotion developed and delivered to 36 nurses as part of a 12-month primary health care nursing (PHCN) training course. The module utilized a variety of educational methods and materials to facilitate and encourage both individual and group learning. The module was evaluated using both student academic attainment and perceptions as outcome measures. The evaluation and the experience of facilitating this module show that an oral health promotion module of short duration can sensitize nurses to the importance of oral health and increase oral health knowledge and skills.

Assessing the Oral Health Awareness among the Final Year Undergraduate Nursing Students in Abha, Saudi Arabia

“…Tetuan 2 has suggested that, nursing schools should include oral health assess that an oral health promotion module of short duration could sensitize nurses the importance of oral health and increase their knowledge on oral health and skills. 13 The future of oral healthcare will require that dental schools work in conjunction with other healthcare team members to promote oral health and teach medical professionals about the relationship between oral health and general health. 14 Clemmens and Kerr 15 stated that the nurses are in ideal position to provide health promotion education and screening across the multitude of setting in which they work.…”

Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (Kap) Regarding Early Childhood Caries among Nurses Working in a Low Socio-Economic Area

“…In general, approximately 60% of the nurses themselves felt that their knowledge regarding oral health matters was lacking. Ogunbodede et al [6] and Walid et al [12], found that participants in their studies possessed only very basic knowledge of oral health and prevention.…”

“…Oral health awareness has however been neglected in the greater scheme of things with infectious diseases such as HIV and TB receiving the most attention. Yet, oral health is an important component of overall health and, if neglected, can ultimately have a negative impact on the rest of the body [6].…”

Integration of oral health into primary health care system: views of primary health care workers in Lagos State, Nigeria

“…Studies have shown that the oral health content in the training curricula of nurses is deficient and inadequate 22,23 and not given high educational priority. It has been reported that many health workers within the PHC system are ignorant of the oral complications of many systemic diseases and lack the required knowledge related to oral health.…”

“…22-24 This highlights the need to assess and find ways to improve their knowledge through teaching modules and ongoing learning activities that will address the knowledge gaps identified and achieve a lasting effect. 23,25-27 …”