The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #64756

Deok-Young Park, PhD, NIH/NIDCR, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, 6307 Herkos Ct, Bethesda, MD 20817, 301 451-6759, parkde@mail.nih.gov, Deuk-Sang Ma, PhD, Dept. of Preventive and Public Health Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Kangnung National University, 123 Chibyun-dong, Kangnung, South Korea, and Alice M. Horowitz, PhD, NIDCR/NIH, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, 6307 Herkos Ct, Bethesda, MD 20817.

Oral health is an essential part of general health. Oral health literacy is an essential first step to develop necessary practices. The purpose of this project was to develop, implement and evaluate an oral health curriculum for University students. In Korea, there is no independent °®health education°¯ subject for grades K through 12. Although it is preferable to have the opportunity to learn about oral health during early school years, it is also important to give proper information to young adults. In Korea national health insurance pays for over 90% of dental care, but utilization is little. As in the US, Koreans are unaware of the importance of oral health. The Department of Preventive Dentistry at Kangnung National University initiated a course for non-dental students entitled "oral health management" in 1997. The course is 15 weeks; 2 hours per week for 2 credit hours. The main emphasis of the course is on the importance of prevention. From the first year the course was offered, it became a most popular class for students. It was so in demand that the administrators had to limit the number of students enrolled to 160, which was the maximum capacity of the lecture room. This course provides young adults, many of whom will soon become parents, the opportunity to learn how to obtain and maintain their oral health. This novel approach of increasing awareness about oral health might be used in other countries, including the US.

Learning Objectives:

• To describe University level health education courses and their potential impact.

Keywords: Communication, Health Literacy

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.