Table 1 The final competencies’ list for oral health educators in elementary schools
Cognitive (knowledge) | |
 Public health domain | |
  Knowledge about the basics principals of public health and its maintenance including personal protection | |
  Realize latest important developments in public health | |
  Familiarity with common diseases prevalent in schools | |
  Familiarity with emergency diseases in schools | |
  Explain briefly the oral manifestations related to common childhood diseases | |
 Description of the anatomical elements of the oral fossa domain | |
  Describe the anatomical elements of the oral fossa | |
 Describing and identifying the teeth’s anatomical elements domain | |
  Identify tooth parts | |
  Identify tooth layers | |
  Distinguish temporary from permanent teeth | |
  Distinguish teeth’s shapes | |
  Explain the sequence of teeth’s eruption | |
 Explanation of basic dental functions domain | |
  Explain of basic dental functions | |
 Oral and dental diseases domain | |
  Define dental caries | Dental caries |
  Identify dental caries’ pathogenesis | |
  Identify dental caries’ main symptoms and signs | |
  Explain dental caries’ development | |
  Define periodontal infections | Periodontal infections |
  Identify periodontal infections’ pathogenesis | |
  Identify periodontal infections’ main symptoms and signs | |
  Explain periodontal infections’ development | |
  Distinguish some oral lesions other than dental caries and periodontal disease | Other |
 The prevention of oral and dental diseases and injuries domain | |
  Explain the nutrition’s importance in preventing oral diseases | |
  Describe the means of oral health preservation | |
  Explain the role of oral health means in preventing from tooth decay | |
  Explain the role of oral health means in preventing from periodontal infections | |
  Explain the using methods for oral health preservation means | |
  Explain the fluorides’ role and its various applications in preventing tooth decay | |
  Summarize fissures sealant’ s role in preventing tooth decay | |
  Explain the harmful effects of smoking in all forms on oral and public health | |
  Determine ways to avoid oral and dental injuries at school | |
  Briefly explain how to handle oral and dental injuries in school | |
  Explain bad oral habits (nail biting and finger sucking) negative effects on oral health | |
 Other cognitive competencies domain | |
  Realize the regulatory principles, limitations and responsibilities related to the health educators’ work in elementary schools | |
  Distinguish the social, economic, cultural and intellectual characteristics related to target groups | |
  Familiarity with different oral health education methods including online education [17] | |
Skills | |
 Communication skills domain | |
  Communicate with different age groups of pupils in elementary schools | |
  Communicate with the work team and administrators | |
  Interact with the target group and use body language | |
  Motivate the target group to periodically visit the dentist and break the fear barrier | |
  Communicate with students with special needs who are integrated into schools | |
 Tools investment domain | |
  Effective investment of the demonstration tools | |
  Use computer and new technologies for oral health education purpose | |
 Training domain | |
  Guide and apply fluoride mouth rinse procedures in elementary schools | |
  Train pupils on using of oral health means | |
 Organize domain | |
  Effectively use oral health education time | |
  Report tasks achievement details | |
  Think systematically | |
Attitude | |
 Personal characteristics domain | |
  Demonstrate responsible, careful and patient behavior while performing their work | |
  Demonstrate willingness to volunteer to do community-based oral health work | |
  Aware of promoting oral health message importance | |
  Demonstrate a health behavior that reflects the health educator’s image | |
 Rights’ respect domain | |
  Respect beliefs, culture and decent treatment for various groups of children, teachers, administrators and parents | |
  Treat students equally with no discrimination to ethnicity, belief, gender, or social background | |
 Respecting laws and regulations domain | |
  Adhere to principles, laws and recommendations governing the work of oral health educators to interact with children within elementary schools and to apply oral health education procedures and preventive measures | |
  Aware of the limitations of their work and not to override | |