Teeth talk: an oral health literacy intervention among Port Augusta Aboriginal adults to better improve the knowledge and use of dental services

• Reach:

  SA

• Focus area:

  Indigenous

• Status:

  Current

• Evaluated:

  No

• Time frame:

  1 January 2010 - 31 December 2012

Overview

The goal of the Teeth talk: an oral health literacy intervention among Port Augusta Aboriginal adults to better improve the knowledge and use of dental services study is to determine if implementation of a functional, context-specific oral health literacy intervention improves oral health literacy-related outcomes for Indigenous people. The improved oral health literacy is measured by oral health knowledge, oral health self-care, utilisation of dental services, and oral health-related self-efficacy among Indigenous adults living in Port Augusta, South Australia, and the surrounding area. Participants in the study receive oral health literacy intervention benefits.

If evaluation of the project shows that an intense, interactive oral health literacy intervention improves oral health literacy-related outcomes, it will show the benefit of having Indigenous Health Workers employed in an oral health promotion/literacy capacity in Indigenous medical centres. Outcomes of the initiative could also be useful for Indigenous medical centres when negotiating with funding bodies such as the South Australian Dental Service in regards to oral health program continuation.

Abstract adapted from the Indigenous Oral Health Unit

Contacts

Indigenous Oral Health Unit
Ground floor
122 Frome Street
Adelaide SA
School of Dentistry
The University of Adelaide
Adelaide SA 5005
Ph: (08) 8313 4045
Ph: (08) 8313 3290
Fax: (08) 8313 4858

Links

• View information: An oral health literacy intervention among Port Augusta Aboriginal adults to better improve the knowledge and use of dental services
• View information: IOHU newsletter (April 2012) (PDF - 691.7 KB)
  Information on page 4.
• View website: Indigenous Oral Health Unit (IOHU)