Influence of seminar and mailed guidelines on knowledge of school teachers regarding emergency treatment for dental injures

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the influence of two different modes for delivering guidelines on school teachers' knowledge on emergency treatment for dental injuries. Design: Cross sectional questionnaire study. Setting: Primary schools in Dar es Salaam city council in Tanzania. Participants: Primary school teachers. Intervention: Provision of guidelines by mail or through seminar or no guidelines (control).Main outcome measures: Knowledge on emergency management of dental injuries Results: The teachers did not have adequate knowledge on the emergency management of traumatised teeth. Significant differences were observed between the study groups. Teachers from the seminar group were likely to re-implant an avulsed tooth (five times more likely than the control group) or otherwise would transport it in the recommended medium. No significant differences were observed between the groups on their willingness to take the avulsed tooth to a doctor or dentist or on the method or liquid they would use to clean a dirty avulsed tooth. Conclusion: Compared to provision of information through mailed guidelines, seminar discussions better improved the school teachers' knowledge regarding emergency treatment for dental injuries.

Knowledge and attitude of Sudanese school health teachers regarding first aid management of dental trauma

“…It is worth noting that 86.8% of teachers in the current study witnessed a dental trauma, which in contrast to the results reported by McIntyre in USA where 69% of the respondents never witnessed a TDI [10], however it in agreement with the results in Tanzanian sample [13]. This finding reinforces the need for teachers to be well informed in dental emergency management.…”

“…Only 2.3% of Sudanese teacher chose milk as a proper storage medium, similar to results 4% obtained in Tanzania [13], 10% in Turkey [24], and 9% in Hong Kong [15].In contrast the current Table 6. Frequency of the teacher answers regarding the attitude evaluation with regard to dental trauma management.…”

Impact of educational posters on the lay knowledge of school teachers regarding emergency management of dental injuries

“…The purpose of this study was to investigate the knowledge of school teachers about the emergency management of dental trauma after an educational poster campaign. Different surveys incorporating teachers, physical education teachers, physicians and dentists have been published in the literature (28–36, 40, 41, 45, 46). They all reported inadequate levels of knowledge within these groups regarding emergency treatment.…”

“…To improve this situation, most authors suggested that education regarding dental emergencies should be performed. Up to now, only a few studies have assessed the effect of tutorials, mailed guidelines or educational posters (29, 31, 32). A study by Hamilton et al.…”

“…Kahabuka et al. compared the outcome of a campaign informing teachers by mailed guidelines vs tutorials (32). Although the knowledge was stated as poor in both groups, the outcome in the group that had attended tutorials was clearly better.…”