Between November 1997 and May 1998 the Louisiana Office of Public Health Oral Health Program planned and implemented a visual oral health screening and referral of 1435 3rd graders throughout the state of Louisiana. School health nurses were recruited and trained to perform the screening, make an assessment of need and refer children for care. In April 1998 this evluation was begun to determine the impact of the screening program in terms of need and children referred; the response of the nurses to training and screening; parents' perceptions of access and utilization through self-reports and interviews; the number of 3rd graders with urgent need for care; and the effectiveness and benefit of screening as a surveillance mechanism and catalyst to care-seeking by parents. Just over one third of the students were referred for care. 22.1% of students had sealants. Although follow-up was difficult, the nurse response to the training and education was positive. The screening proved a useful method for surveillance but not necessarily as a catalyst to care-seeking. Recommendations can and should be used to improve this method.
Learning Objectives: 1. Understand importance of basic oral health education to school health nurses. 2. Understand effetiveness of oral health screening program in schools. 3. Understand utility of basic evaluation to screening program improvement
Keywords: Oral Health, Evaluation
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.