부모와 보육교사의 유아 구강건강 정보 이해도 및 교육 인식 비교 연구

The Understanding of Oral Health Information and Perceptions Regarding Early Childhood Oral Health Education: A Comparative Study of Parents and Childcare Teachers

Objectives: This study compared the oral health terminology comprehension, knowledge, perceptions regarding importance, and attitudes of parents with 5- to 7-year-old children and their childcare teachers to derive basic data that can enhance the effectiveness of oral health education programs. Methods: From March 1 to 31, 2025, a structured questionnaire was administered to 84 parents and 16 childcare teachers at a kindergarten school in Y City. The questionnaire covered four domains: oral health terminology comprehension, perceived importance, oral health knowledge, and attitudes toward oral health education. The data were analyzed via t-tests, chi-square tests, and the Mann-Whitney U test run on SPSS 21.0. Results: The parents scored higher than teachers in understanding dental caries and periodontal disease (p < .05). The mean oral health knowledge scores of the parents and teachers were 6.76 and 5.06 (p < .001), respectively, with the former showing more accurate knowledge of fluoride toothpaste use, dietary control, xylitol timing, and toothbrushing guidance. The parents also rated the correction of harmful oral habits (p < .05), prevention/early detection of malocclusion (p = .001), and responsibility for participating in oral health education significantly higher, while the teachers reported slightly more confidence in providing. Conclusions: Enhancing oral health in the mixed dentition stage requires integrating education from homes and childcare settings. Strategies should be developed to improve teachers’ knowledge, sustain parental engagement, and develop joint, age-appropriate materials and participatory programs to address the problems of interest.