The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #42037

Linda A. Faust, MPA¹, Jack Karabasz, DMD, Renee Samuels, DDS³, Rajika E. Reed, MPH¹, Lynn Blanchard, PhD⁴, Marilyn Stinebaugh, BS⁵, Cassandra Kramer⁵, Zachary Zator⁵, and Andrew Bench⁵. (1) Department of Community Health and Health Studies, Lehigh Valley Hospital, 17th and Chew St, Box 7017, Allentown, PA 18105-7017, (2) Department of Dentistry, Lehigh Valley Hospital, 17th & Chew Streets, P. O. Box 7017, Allentown, PA 18105, (3) Carolina Center for Public Service, University of North Carolina, Bank of America Center, Suite 201, 137 E. Franklin St., Campus Box 3142, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, (4) Broadcasting Video Production, Parkland High School, 2700 N. Cedar Crest Blouvard, Allentown, PA 18104

Introduction/Background: Since 1997, Measurable Enhancement of the Status of Health (MESH) Community Initiatives of Lehigh Valley Hospital has worked with a coalition to improve children’s dental health through health-related interventions and general community-building activities. In the targeted community, decay rates were 50% higher than a neighboring fluoridated community. Following a hard-fought success to fluoridate, a local dental champion led the effort to shift focus to improving dental health through education activities. The initial project is a video produced by a community collaborative including high school video production students.

Methods: Video elements include: general dental hygiene practices, good nutrition, fluoridated water consumption, baby bottle decay prevention, recommended toothpaste amount for children and mouth safety in sports. The free video, in both Spanish and English, will be distributed widely. Enthusiasm is high as planning moves to the implementation level. Incentives for children (dental health “kits”) and families (grocery certificates) are ready. Grant funds, awards, donations, and vendor contributions support the project. Production is scheduled for Spring 2002 at a variety of community locations and venues.

Results: We expect the process of engaging the community in planning, production, distribution and dissemination of the video will result in community ownership and investment. Ideally, this involvement will lead to increased utilization of the instrument, improve dental health practices and ultimately improve dental health.

Conclusion: MESH will continue to promote dental health education efforts and further engage community members in a solid partnership built through community health improvement efforts in a targeted area.

Learning Objectives: The objectives of this session are to

• Define a dental health education effort in a targeted community.
• Describe the engagement process and collaboration of a community in developing and disseminating a dental health education instrument.
• Identify challenges experienced and key elements for success.
• Articulate results and describe the value of the process in ongoing community health improvement efforts.

Keywords: Oral Health, Video

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.