The role of oral health promotion in oral health policy : a comparative analysis of two European countries

• Main Author: Schou, Lone
• Published: University of Edinburgh 1992
• Subjects: 610.7343
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.661638

The aim of this study was to examine the role of oral health promotion in oral health policy. Oral health promotion was defined as: 'Any action to protect or enhance oral health, including legal, fiscal, educational and social measures'. The study examined such actions within the four policy areas of sugar consumption, oral hygiene, fluoride exposure and visits to a dentist. In order to increase understanding of the application of policy work in dentistry a comparative perspective was taken. Two northern European countries, the United Kingdom and Denmark were chosen for the analysis as countries with similar patterns of dental disease. Due to the novelty and complexity of the research area, a rather comprehensive and thorough analysis of existing documents and scientific literature was conducted and presented as part of the thesis. This includes a review of policy literature as well as a comparative analysis of dental health, dental health services, dental manpower and structure and organisation of dental health education in the two countries. In addition data were collected using qualitative, specialised elite interview techniques. The study population comprised 39 Danish and 19 British experts. The interviews were tape-recorded and comprehensive notes were taken during all interviews. The comparative analysis using Leichter's health policy framework was based on tapes and notes from all 58 interviews and also on information gained from the document and literature analysis. The results showed differences both between the two countries and between the four policy areas in terms of what the policies were and the way in which they had developed.