Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #104730

Ronald P. Strauss, DMD, PhD¹, Rosemary G. McKaig, MPH, PhD¹, Marci K. Campbell, RD MPH PHD², Kevin Moss¹, Sally Mauriello, RDH, EdD¹, Ada Rey, RDH, MS¹, Salli Benedict, MPH³, and James D. Beck, PhD¹. (1) UNC School of Dentistry, C.B. # 7450, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7450, 919-966-2788, ron_strauss@unc.edu, (2) Nutrition Dept, University of North Carolina, CB 7400, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, (3) Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, University of North Carolina, CB 3417, 1700 Airport Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3417

Objectives: To examine participant responses to oral health promotion methodologies used in an intervention for low-income workers in small factories in 2 counties in rural NC. This project sought to enhance healthy oral behavior changes in a workplace. The intervention included: 1)worker focus groups; 2)training and using Natural Helpers (Lay Health Advisors); 3)publishing individualized, tailored, computer-generated health messages; and 4)provision of electric toothbrushes.

Methods: 4 Sites (n=85 intervention sites; n=60 control site) were studied using health surveys, oral Examinations and plaque/GCF sampling.

Results: 75% report they changed care of their teeth and gums due to the intervention (56% in controls). 53% state their gum health is improved because of the intervention (42% in controls). Among intervention participants: 69% remember the dental health newsletter; 51% read most, or all, of the newsletter; 51% say the information in the newsletter changed their oral health behaviors. 43% report the Lay Health advisors spoke with them alot about oral health; 32% indicate that this helped them change their oral health behaviors. 93% of intervention participants recommend that the approach be used in other similar factories.

Conclusions: Lay Health Advisors and Tailored messages are worksite-based health educational methodologies that can mobilize management and worker interest in oral health. This is an appealing intervention for a hard-to-reach population and serves to encourage factory workers to adopt and maintain oral health practices that are recommended to reduce the risk of periodontal disease.

Learning Objectives:

• Examine strategies to reach disadvantaged rural workers with oral health promotion
• Evaluate impacts of lay health advisors as oral health educators
• Assess the impacts of tailored health messages as a health promotion strategy

Keywords: Oral Health, Health Promotion

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.