Dental Hygiene ETDs

Publication Date

Fall 11-16-2020

Abstract

Purpose:

This study evaluated the oral health literacy OHL of school staff in Southern Minnesota. OHL is the degree to which individuals can understand health information. Dental caries is the most common chronic disease in school aged children, and school staff members spend a large portion of the day with children. Therefore, it is important for all school staff members to have a moderate or higher OHL status.

Methods:

The survey used a convenience sample of school staff in 3 different schools in southern Minnesota and used the REALD-30 OHL instrument with slight modification, to simplify data collection.

Results:

Fifty surveys were returned with the mean score of 19.6, placing the school staff in the moderate OHL range.

Conclusion:

Although the results of this study showed the participants possessed a moderate OHL status, results were limited and do not represent the OHL status of the staff at the three schools.

Degree Name

Dental Hygiene

Level of Degree

Masters

Department Name

Dental Medicine

First Committee Member (Chair)

Diana Aboytes, RDH, MS

Second Committee Member

Christine Nathe, RDH, MS

Third Committee Member

Christina Calleros, RDH, MN

Language

English

Keywords

Oral health literacy, Dental hygienist, Literacy, School staff, REALD-30

Document Type

Thesis

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