Evaluation of workplace oral health promotion in Kaengkhoi district, Saraburi province : a positive approach

Abstract

This study implements a one-year workplace oral health promotion (WOHP) program in factories aiming to determine the impact on the oral health outcomes. Furthermore, it defines association among factory’s environment, behaviors and workers’ oral health status. Six factories in Kaengkhoi district of Saraburi province with less than 200 workers joined this study and defined to be a two factories of intervention I group (joined 1 year) and one factory intervention II group (joined after 6 months). The manager and head of the worker that participated in a small group discussion about the dental status of their worker were key person in the project. After that, they design and create oral health activities by themselves depending on their factory context. Six months later, they shared experience on oral health activity to each other.

This study found the difference of dental caries and oral hygiene of workers among factories. Workers in factories that have wash basins for toothbrushing in toilets had 60% (IRR= 0.4 (0.2-0.9)) lower number of decayed teeth (DT score) and 7 times (OR= 7.0 (2.2-22.8)) more likely to have good oral hygiene compared with the other. Workers in medium size factories and those working in a factory that provided additional health insurance benefits were three times more likely to have good oral hygiene. After the intervention, oral health promotion activities occurring in Intervention I group were health education posters and morning talks, reminding to brush after lunch by the head of workers and limit of snacks in breaking period. The factory in intervention II group had only educational posters activity. At 6 months, Intervention I group obtained significantly higher scores of four knowledge and behavior items that are the frequency of tooth brushing, use of fluoride toothpaste, eating fruits habit and recommended drinks. At 1 year period, most of the changed behaviors still remain. For the workers in Intervention II improved their knowledge and behaviors on the frequency of tooth brushing and self-examination. Both Intervention groups obtained better behavior on examination by dentists compared to the control group. For managers and head of workers viewpoint, the workplace oral health promotion program was possible to launch only if it does not affect worker productivity. The managers thought that control of selling snack at convenience shop was impossible but to limit the time of snack break was easier.

In conclusion, factory environments associated with workers’ oral health. This WOHP with participation can change factory environments and improve workers oral health knowledge and behaviors.