Children · 11 authors, 7 centres
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This pilot study surveyed 109 teachers of visually impaired children in Poland and Slovakia and found that while most teachers self-assessed their oral health knowledge as good, their actual knowledge was insufficient, with only 6.42% answering 6–7 out of 7 key questions correctly. The study highlights the need for targeted oral health education programs for teachers to improve the oral health of visually impaired children.
**Background:** Children with visual impairment are at increased risk of oral diseases and face barriers to dental care. Teachers play a crucial role in shaping health behaviors, yet their knowledge of oral health may be inadequate. This pilot study aimed to assess and compare the oral health awareness of teachers working with visually impaired children in Poland and Slovakia.
**Methods:** A structured questionnaire was administered to 109 teachers (90 from Poland, 19 from Slovakia) working directly with visually impaired children. The survey included self-assessment of oral health knowledge, questions on school-based oral hygiene practices, fluoride prophylaxis, and an Optimal Response Pattern of seven key knowledge questions (e.g., correct brushing time, toothbrush hardness, fluoride concentration). Statistical analysis used chi-square, Mann-Whitney U, and Kruskal-Wallis tests.
**Key Results:** Mean age of teachers was 44.25 ± 10.25 years; 81.65% were female; mean work experience was 16.66 ± 10.07 years. Self-assessment: 60.56% rated knowledge as rather good, 28.44% very good, 11.01% average. However, on the Optimal Response Pattern, the mean number of correct answers was 3.53 out of 7 (50.46%). Only 6.42% of teachers answered 6–7 questions correctly; 51.38% answered 0–3 correctly. There were no statistically significant differences in correct answers based on self-assessment, transfer of knowledge to children, having children, sex, or work experience (all p > 0.05). In Poland, 55.56% of teachers confirmed children brush teeth at school vs. 100% in Slovakia (p < 0.001). Fluoride prophylaxis was reported by 98.55% of Polish and 92.86% of Slovak teachers (p > 0.05). Educational campaigns were reported by 92.66% overall, with significant differences between countries (p < 0.05).
**Clinical Implications:** The findings indicate that teachers of visually impaired children have general but not expert oral health knowledge, which may limit their effectiveness as oral health advocates. The study underscores the need for targeted training programs for teachers, development of special education tools (e.g., Braille tooth models, audio recordings), and collaboration with dental professionals. Improving teacher knowledge could lead to better oral hygiene practices and reduced caries risk in visually impaired children.