Impact of oral health promotion training on knowledge and attitudes of Ministry of Health personnel

Abstract Oral health is a vital part of general health, influencing individuals’ quality of life and well-being. The World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes the need for preventive oral health measures and encourages countries to integrate oral health into national health strategies. In Türkiye, previous studies highlight low levels of awareness and suboptimal attitudes regarding oral and dental health. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and attitudes of Ministry of Health personnel and to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured educational intervention designed to promote oral health. A quasi-experimental pre-post study was conducted among personnel at the Ministry's Central Organization. A total of 247 participants completed pre- and post-intervention questionnaires evaluating their knowledge and attitudes. The face-to-face training program addressed oral hygiene, early tooth loss, and appropriate responses to pediatric dental trauma and orthodontic issues. The intervention was delivered by expert trainers. Data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Participants’ mean age was 33.7±7.0 years, with 71.4% female. The average score on six knowledge items about early tooth loss increased from 4.2 to 4.7 post-intervention (p < 0.001). Awareness of appropriate responses to children's orthodontic and dental trauma issues improved significantly (p < 0.001). The Oral Health Attitude Scale score rose from 162.8±37.9 to 346.8±49.9 (p < 0.001). These improvements were observed consistently across gender, age, profession, chronic illness, and parental status, with no statistically significant differences between groups (p > 0.05). The face-to-face training significantly enhanced knowledge, attitudes, and confidence among Ministry of Health personnel. Integrating such oral health promotion efforts into workforce development programs may strengthen preventive service delivery and inform broader public health strategies in Türkiye and comparable settings. Key messages • Targeted face-to-face training can significantly improve oral health knowledge and attitudes among Ministry of Health personnel. • Incorporating oral health education into institutional training programs supports stronger public health service delivery.