Stenholm, Zoe
(2024)
Periodontal Education Program in a Trauma Affected Community.
Master Essay, University of Pittsburgh.
Abstract
The goal of this study was to evaluate an oral health education program that focused on periodontal health and disease in a Trauma Affected Community (TAC) in a Dental Health Professional Shortage Area (DHPSA). The research question was, “Is a periodontally focused oral health education program effective in increasing periodontal knowledge in individuals who are part of a TAC in a DHPSA?” The Neighborhood Resilience Project (NRP) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is a non-profit organization that offers a volunteer-run Free Health Center in a DHPSA and primarily serves a TAC. We administered a pre-presentation assessment to assess baseline knowledge at weekly NRP community events. Then, we gave presentations about periodontal health, periodontal diseases, risk factors, and home care. Gained participant knowledge was evaluated via a post-presentation assessment. 30 paired pre- and post-surveys were used in the analyses. Improvements in knowledge were identified for plaque causing tooth loss, diabetes affecting gum health, and pregnancy affecting gum health. This research is of public health importance because it focuses on a disease that affects nearly half of the adult population and examines an at-risk population to provide a sustainable solution and reproducible model for other TAC organizations. Per our review there is no literature that documents oral health knowledge and status of individuals from trauma affected communities. These results aid in understanding a TAC’s baseline oral health knowledge and can be used to create programs that improve TACs oral health and consequently overall health.
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Details
| Item Type: |
Other Thesis, Dissertation, or Long Paper
(Master Essay)
|
| Status: |
Unpublished |
| Creators/Authors: |
|
| Contributors: |
| Contribution | Contributors Name | Email | Pitt Username | ORCID  |
|---|
| Committee Member | Albert, Steven | smalbert@pitt.edu | smalbert | UNSPECIFIED | | Committee Member | Balakrishnan, Nyla | nyb1@pitt.edu | nyb1 | UNSPECIFIED |
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| Date: |
21 May 2024 |
| Date Type: |
Completion |
| Submission Date: |
22 April 2024 |
| Access Restriction: |
No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately. |
| Number of Pages: |
29 |
| Institution: |
University of Pittsburgh |
| Schools and Programs: |
School of Public Health > Multidisciplinary MPH |
| Degree: |
MPH - Master of Public Health |
| Thesis Type: |
Master Essay |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: |
Periodontal disease, periodontium, trauma affected community, oral health, education, program |
| Date Deposited: |
21 May 2024 14:13 |
| Last Modified: |
21 May 2024 14:13 |
| URI: |
http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/46244 |
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