Student volunteer participation in a health promotion program for older local residents

Abstract

　Currently, the Department of Dental Hygiene is conducting a multidisciplinary intervention study (implementation of a health promotion program) for the prevention of oral frailty, involving older people living in UR housing in Chiba City, with which our university concluded a collaborative agreement in 2017.

　In the health promotion program, dental hygiene students participated as volunteers to learn about professional collaboration and cooperation in health promotion and regional characteristics. As a result, older residents who participated in the program positively assessed the content of the program, implementation of the program in their area of residence, and interaction with university teachers and students. The students were able to have an opportunity to understand the characteristics of older people, learn how to respond appropriately to them, and actively interact with them. The students’ involvement in the program planning and operation also helped them learn the importance of professional collaboration and cooperation in health promotion.