Baccalaureate nursing students, in consultation with dental, medical, physician assistant and other graduate professional students at the same university, work within College of Nursing operated school-based clinics, providing a variety of screening and health promotion activities for members of the school and the larger community. In the Fall, 1999, in collaboration with the school district nurse at a rural elementary school, oral health was chosen by nursing students as the primary health need of the children. Nationally, 46% of elementary school age children have dental caries. In this screening of more than 200 kindegarten, first, third and fifth grade children in a rural SC elementary school, 56% had caries. Forty percent of the children did not brush their teeth twice a day, and almost all did not floss. All children received a fifteen minute interactive classroom dental hygiene session and a "care" package containing toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss and informative parent brochures listing oral health resources that would be economically feasible for lower income families. Students in future semesters will evaluate the long term outcomes of dental health education, family responses to recommendations for dental care, and the need for further intervention.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, session participants will be able to: 1. List five risk factors for poor oral health among lower income, rural, African-American children. 2. Describe the process for conducting oral health screenings with children. 3. Describe effective individual and family interventions for improving the oral health of children
Keywords: Child Health Promotion, Oral Health Needs
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.