The Development of a Health Literacy Model for Promoting Oral Health among Parents of Preschool Children in Phuket Province

Abstract

This research and development study aims to develop a health literacy model for promoting oral health among parents of preschool children in Phuket Province. The study is divided into three phases: Phase 1: Situation analysis, Phase 2: Development of the health literacy model, and Phase 3: Pilot implementation and evaluation. The study period is from May to August 2024. The population of the study consists of parents of preschool children aged 3-5 years in Phuket Province. The tools used include: 1) a questionnaire to assess oral health promotion literacy for preschool children, 2) a learning activity, and 3) a satisfaction assessment form. Data were analyzed using Independent t-test and Repeated Measures ANCOVA. The results revealed that in Phase 1, parents' overall health literacy regarding oral health promotion for preschool children was at a moderate level. In Phase 3, pre-intervention results showed that both the experimental and comparison groups had similar moderate levels of health literacy. After a four-week intervention, the experimental group demonstrated a significant increase in oral health literacy compared to their pre-intervention levels and the comparison group (p < 0.05). Additionally, the experimental group showed better oral health care behaviors for preschool children, with scores significantly higher than their pre-intervention levels and the comparison group (p < 0.05). At the follow-up phase, the experimental group maintained significantly higher oral health literacy scores compared to the comparison group (p < 0.05). The analysis of variance (Repeated Measures ANCOVA) indicated that the experimental group’s oral health literacy, both post-intervention and during the follow-up period, was significantly better than that of the comparison group (p < 0.001). To help parents prevent oral health issues in preschool children, it is essential to continue developing health literacy regarding oral health promotion for parents on an ongoing basis.