The effectiveness of oral health care program among the elderly Case study: Namom District, Songkhla Province

Abstract

This quasi experimental research aims to study the effectiveness of program in promoting the elderly oral health care.  The sampled population was older people in Namom district, Songkhla, Thailand.
The sample size calculates by G*Power program. 27 older people were then sampled. 10% of the sampled group was added for any risk of possible loss. Eventually, 30older people were sampled for each of the two groups.
The experimental group covered the older people who received the program of the oral care while the control group did not receive it.  The sampling was randomized from the older people’s dental checkup. The data collection tool was a survey questionnaire involving knowledge and the people’s behavior of oral care, the Plaque Index, The home visiting from.  The data were analyzed by using the descriptive statistics. The statistical tests which were used covered T-test. The research showed that                               1.The older people in the experimental group who had received the program for the oral health care gained better knowledge and behavior   and Plaque Index was less than the control group (P<.05.)                              2. The older people in the experimental group were significantly in the mean scores of knowledge, behaviors of oral health care behaviors, and differences in the average Plaque Index better than control group (P<.05.)                              This research pointed out that the program for the oral health care was very effective in caring the older people. The program was to enhance knowledge and the older people’s appropriate behavior in caring their oral health.