The driving forces behind oral education/promotion activities among Jamaican dental auxiliaries [abstract]

OBJECTIVE: To determine the factors which influence decisions relating to oral health education/promotion activities by dental auxiliaries. METHOD: Fifty per cent of the dental auxiliaries in the Ministry of Health's Schools Dental Health Programme islandwide were systematically selected for completion of a questionnaire on oral health education/promotion. Regional Dental Coordinators also acted as key formants in assessing dental health education/promotion activities. RESULTS: A significant number of auxiliaries (94.7 percent, p<0.03) thought dental health education was an integral part of public health practice. Numerical targets set by the Ministry of Health were more a driving force than were the special needs of children in carrying out oral health education/promotion activities. The use of the lecture method supported by visual aids when conducting sessions was directly related to the availability of resources for carrying out such sessions. The staff was more likely to use the lecture method in pre- and primary schools (p= 0.003). Oral health promotional intervention procedures such as prophylaxis were carried out by a significant number (96.8 percent) of nurses. Atruamatic restorative treatment (ART) 67 percent, sealant 55.6 percent and preventive resin restoration (PRR) 48.4 percent were also done. Lack of material and equipment was the most common reason reported by these persons who were not carrying out ART, sealant, PRR procedures (45 percent, 96.6 percent, 71 percent respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Numerical targets and availability of educational material were the major driving forces for oral health education/promotion in this group. Emphasis on the utilization of other oral health promotion interventions, however, is vital to the maintenance of a reduced decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT) index in Jamaica. (AU)

Jamaican Dental Auxiliary Training Program, Kingston Jamaica

A site visit and review of the Jamaica Dental Auxiliary Training programs were made by Professor Eric E Spohn on December 3 to 8, 1995. The attached report contains the Terms of Reference, list of persons interviewed, background statement, technical evaluations, conclusions, and recommendations. This program, developed in 1970, continues to serve the needs of the citizens of Jamaica for dental nurses and assistants. In the past 25 years there have been major changes in the level of training required for oral health care personnel in basic and clinical sciences. The most significant finding of this site visit is the fact that this program is not currently a part of Jamaica's tertiary educational system. It is recommended that this be remedied as soon as feasible by an affiliation with the University of Technology or other appropriate tertiary educational program. Other significant findings of this site visit include the fact that the program is operating at less than one-half capacity with a shortage of personnel and seriously compromised equipment, instruments and supplies. High priority must be given to providing more resources to support this program's infrastructure so that student education and clinical patient care are not jeopardized. Additional recommendations include providing administration and teacher training workshops for faculty as well as continuing education for practicing dentists and dental nurses. Also needed are up to date training materials, equipment and supplies to improve the educational programs. Affiliation with a quality tertiary educational institution will hopefully help to correct these shortcomings. The goal of this program review was to evaluate the program, develop conclusions, make recommendations to benefit the training of dental nurses and assistants, and to ultimately bring the benefits of oral health to the people of Jamaica.(AU)