A model of experiential learning for teenagers’ habits related to dental services utilization and smoking

Abstract

Oral health promotion among adolescence is necessary due to the vulnerability specific to their age, such as the debut of smoking habits and the neglecting the dental services utilization. Taking into consideration the tendency of teenagers to be reluctant to conventional education, experiential learning is a more appropriate method for this target group since the participants are engaged in interactive activities with respect to a learning circle “Do”, “Observe”, “Think”, “Plan”, as described by David Kolb. The present paper describes the experiential learning activities used for oral health education of a group of 13-17 years-old adolescents in Bucharest, Romania enrolled in a 2-year longitudinal study as part of “Com4you” oral health promotion program. The activities described were part of the third lesson offered during the program and this last one approached as oral health subjects the importance regular visits to the dental office and the oral health risks of tobacco consumption. Students showed interest to both the subjects and the method and the results of the program showed greater changes in the adolescents’ oral health-related behavior when this method was used compared to traditional learning.