Advancing preventive care under vision 2030: a retrospective study on integrating oral health into the health coach program in Jeddah's second health cluster.

Abstract

Oral health is a key component of overall well-being, yet it is often underrepresented in public health training programs. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of introducing dental health education sessions into the annual Health Coach Program at Jeddah Second Health Cluster. A cohort of 55 health coaches participated in an educational intervention that incorporated essential dental health topics into their training curriculum. Participants' knowledge and understanding of oral health concepts were measured using a structured, validated questionnaire administered before and after the intervention to assess changes attributable to the program. The results show that the educational intervention awareness for the participants of fluoride benefits increased from 40 to 80% (p < 0.001), and knowledge of pediatric oral health improved from 55 to 85% (p = 0.002). Self-reported tooth brushing twice daily rose from 70 to 95% (p = 0.001*). Participants with bachelor's degrees demonstrated greater knowledge gains (OR = 2.10, p = 0.016), while the intervention itself was the strongest predictor of improvement (OR = 4.25, p < 0.001). The study concluded that integrating oral health into the Health Coach Program may strengthen community prevention efforts and advance the national agenda for holistic, preventive healthcare.