Page 47 - FINAL COMPENDIUM 2020-2021 27.2.2022

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PRESCHOOL ORAL HEALTHCARE PROGRAMME (POHP) FROM
THE PERSPECTIVE OF DENTAL THERAPISTS (DT) AND SUGGESTIONS FOR
IMPROVEMENT: A QUALITATIVE STUDY

Nurdin MF, Yusof ZYM
Introduction: The Preschool Oral Health Programme (POHP) was established in 1984 by
the Ministry of Health to provide oral health education and preventive treatment to
preschool children. Throughout the years, the effectiveness of the POHP was assessed by
means of children’s oral health status. However, input from oral health personnel on the
implementation process of the POHP has not been thoroughly assessed. Objective: To
explore the effectiveness and suggestions for improvement of the POHP from the
perspective of dental therapists (DT) in the Selangor state. Materials and methods: This
was a qualitative study with DT using focus group discussion (FGD) as data collection
method. A total of 13 FGDs had been conducted involving 114 DT. Data were transcribed
verbatim, followed by thematic analysis using Nvivo software. Results: The DT opined that
the POHP was effective to improve children and teachers’ oral health knowledge, increase
acceptance of the programme by children, inculcate healthy toothbrushing habit among
children, promote monitoring of children’s oral health status by teachers, encourage in-
class oral health lessons, provision of oral health-related facilities at preschools, and helps
to control caries. Suggestions for improvement were to include active parental
participation in POHP, form a dedicated team for POHP, provide financial support, offer
further training for DT, and monitor teacher-initiated oral health-related activities at
preschools. Conclusion: The findings of the study provide important insights for
policymakers, stakeholders, and health managers to increase programme effectiveness,
improve service delivery, and support oral health promoting behaviours among preschool
children.

Keywords: Malaysia, Dental therapists, Evaluation, Oral health, Preschool children

Poster presentation at the 28 MDA SCATE 2021 on 27 February 2021
th
Dr Muhammad Farid bin Nurdin
Petaling District Dental Office
Shah Alam
Selangor, Malaysia

Prof. Dr Zamros Yuzadi bin Mohd Yusof
Department of Community Oral Health & Clinical Prevention
Faculty of Dentistry
University of Malaya
Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia

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