Self-management Behaviors Regarding Dental Caries Prevention and Solving among 8-12 Years Children, Ban Thung Muang School, Pong Nam Ron District, Chanthaburi Province

Abstract

This descriptive research aimed to determine self-management behaviors regarding dental caries prevention and solving among 8-12 years children, Ban Thung Muang School, Pong Nam Ron District, Chanthaburi Province. The samples consisted of 47 school age children with dental caries at Ban Thung Muang School. The research instrument was a self-management behavior questionnaire that comprised the demographic data; self-management behaviors in dental caries prevention with the reliability of .83, and self-management behaviors in dental caries solving with the reliability of .66. Data were collected in November 2015. Data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation.

The research results revealed that the most participants had the score of self-management behaviors in dental caries preventions at a moderate level (89.40%), and the mean score of this behavior was at the moderate level (X = 2.60, SD = .28). Most students have dental plaque (78.70%) and had the self-management behaviors in dental caries solving at a moderate level (59.60%), as same as the mean score of this behavior was at the moderate level (X = 2.83, SD = .56).

This research suggested that the health care team who has the responsibility about the school health can use these results as a guideline for educating the prevention and treatments of dental caries, such as flossing used for the primary school children and promote self-management support by the teachers and parents.