The effectiveness of oral health education by peers on knowledge and performance of students in Zabol, Iran.

ABSTRACT

Oral diseases are the extensive human diseases, especially among children and more than 99% of people suffer from this disease. Oral and dental education by peers provides a good condition to form the health behaviors before adulthood. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of oral and dental education by peers on knowledge and behavior of first grade female students in Zabol, Iran. In this quasi-experimental study conducted in 2012, 287 female primary students were randomly selected and studied in Zabol. Pre-test and post-test performed with the completing a questionnaire that was designed to assess knowledge and behavior of brushing and using sodium fluoride mouthwash. The validity of the results was determined through expert panel and the reliability was determined by Cronbach`s alpha (N=30, =0. 77). One person from each class in the intervention group was selected as a peer educator and was educated via an education plate. The post-test was performed after one month of education. For data analysis, descriptive and analytical tests (paired and independent t-test) in SPSS 18 software were used. There was a significant difference between the mean scores of two groups in knowledge and behavior after education, so that the mean score of knowledge and behavior of students who were educated by peers were higher than that of them before education (P<0.001). Oral and dental education of students by peers is a simple, inexpensive, and effective method which can be used by health system, truly.