Correlation of Oral Health Education by Community Health Workers with Changes in Oral Health Practices in Migrant Populations in Washington State

INTRODUCTION: An important question for oral health education is whether knowledge gained during lay-led workshops is retained and applied in daily practice. This study assessed the knowledge retention and changes in oral health practices several months after oral health education workshops were held for migrant farmworkers by Community Health Workers (CHWs). METHODS AND RESULTS: Follow-up surveys were conducted with 32 participants 1 to 43 months post participation (60% between 6 and 21 months). The results showed a high degree of retention, in such areas as general oral health knowledge, and brushing/flossing frequency and technique among this sample. There was no relationship between length of time since the educational workshop and knowledge retained or behaviors changed. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: An interactive, lay-led oral health education program run by CHWs can be an effective way to deliver sustained improvements in oral health knowledge and changes in oral health practice in migrant populations.