Evaluation of the Effect of Education on the Knowledge and Attitudes of Primary Students’ Parents About Fissure Sealants and Fluoride Therapy in Qazvin, Iran, ۲۰۲۰

Background: Raising the level of knowledge and attitudes of parents about preventive dental services can be highly important in encouraging them to demand and use this type of service and consequently reduce tooth decay in children. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of education on the knowledge and attitudes of parents of primary school children in Qazvin about fissure sealants and fluoride therapy. Methods: This semi-experimental study used a before-after, questionnaire-based intervention. The study population consisted of parents of primary school students (grades ۱–۶) in Qazvin during the ۲۰۲۰ academic year. A reliable and valid questionnaire was used, which included demographic questions, parents’ knowledge about fluoride and fissure sealant therapy, and their attitudes toward these types of care. After completing the online questionnaire, parents received educational videos on fissure sealant and fluoride therapy. Their knowledge and attitudes were reassessed four weeks later. The frequency of participants’ responses and the sum of scores were extracted, and one-way ANOVA (examining the relationship between knowledge and education) statistical analysis was performed with the help of an independent sample test. Results: Overall, ۳۲۰ parents completed the questionnaires before training, and ۱۴۵ of them answered the questionnaire after training. The means and standard deviations (SD) of total knowledge were ۷.۵۴ and ۳.۷۹, respectively, before training, and increased to ۱۵.۹۵ and ۲.۶۱ after training, out of a maximum score of ۱۹. Regarding fluoride, the mean and SD of knowledge before training were ۴.۲۲ and ۲.۱۳ (۳۷.۲% good knowledge), which increased to ۷.۵۳ and ۱.۳۶ (۹۱% good knowledge) after training. Out of a maximum score of ۹, the mean knowledge about fissure sealants was ۳.۳۲ (۹.۷% good knowledge) before training and increased to ۸.۴۴ and ۱.۵۸ (۸۶.۹% good knowledge) after training. Eventually, the mean attitude scores improved from ۸.۳۵ before training to ۴۰.۲۵.۴۵ after training. Conclusion: Due to the low knowledge of parents before education, it is necessary to consider methods to increase awareness about professional preventive methods. In addition, considering the positive impact of the received training, it seems that asking dentists to increase preventive education to their patients while providing services and involving the mass media in providing public education can be an effective measure.