台灣口腔健康促進網－口腔健康監測模式建立之研究

Many surveys on the oral health status among populations of different age groups or geographic areas were carried out in Taiwan during the past 20 years. However, the results of those surveys are not directly comparable due to a lack of consistency in the methodologies employed. With the aim of establishing a nationwide professional oral health promoting manpower network armed with simple, fast, and effective yet economic measures, we began to build the network, the Taiwan Oral Health-Promoting System (TOHPS), which has been supported by a governmental grant since 2004. The oral health surveillance systems used by different industrialized countries such as the US, UK, Australia, and Japan were reviewed and discussed. On account of local characteristics, some modifications which might elucidate major oral health problems in Taiwan were added to our system. Afterwards, a pilot test targeting third graders covering three counties was carried out in 2004. Additional areas and other age groups were included in this tested model in 2005. In fact, the TOHPS is not only an academic project but also a framework for building an infrastructure for our oral health-promoting system. After completing all the model tests, it will be one of the government's standard procedures for promoting oral health for communities throughout Taiwan.