“A System Dynamics Model for Long-term Aspect of Caries Preventive Interventions”

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of the study is to appraise the long-term effects of caries preventive interventions of the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH), Thailand: supervised toothbrushing (STB), dental sealant, and combined STB+sealant that are implemented for 6- to 15-year-olds by comparing with the base case using the System Dynamics Model (SDM). Method: The System Dynamics Model (SDM) was analyzed to compare the interventions, supervised toothbrushing (STB), sealant, and combined STB+sealant as intervention scenarios with the base case scenario. The effectiveness data of interventions set in the model were retrieved from meta-analyses and experts’ opinions. Results: The model established that the no caries population increased by 36.2%, 25.5%, and 18.6% while the caries population decreased by 8.1%, 5.6%, and 3.3% under combined STB+sealant, sealant, and supervised toothbrushing (STB) respectively compared to the base case at the age of 15 years old. From the above 20 years old to the elderly age, both individual and combined interventions have no favorable effect on reducing caries. On the other hand, the no caries population under the interventions is not significantly different from the base case during the elderly age. Conclusion: Combined STB+sealant is the most effective intervention among the interventions that are administered during the age of 6-15 years. The interventions given during these ages have effectiveness in caries reduction by about 15 years from when they are started. In addition, System Dynamics Model (SDM) would assist in comparing the interventions or policies as scenarios to indicate the most opportune one for the population.

Current status and needs in the primary healthcare system in Yangon, Myanmar: a mixed-method evaluation

“…Our findings through the building block approach correspond to other studies of Myanmar (Sommanustweechai et al, 2016;Ei et al, 2019;Oo et al, 2021). One study reviewed the oral healthcare system in Myanmar using six building blocks and found low utilisation of oral healthcare services, lack of workforce, inadequate budget with non-transparent expenditure, and insufficient supply (Saw et al, 2019).…”

“…Several study participants complained about the mismatches between the supply and demand of non-communicable disease medicine, implying a poor information system for medication management. In this regard, the Ministry of Health and Sports in Myanmar is currently developing an electronic information system and putting the effort into the overall readiness for this technology (Oo et al, 2021).…”

“…One of the core focuses of the health information system building block is technology-related education and knowledge that comprehensive on-the-job training and contextualising and localising the curriculum in training programmes need to be developed and regularly updated (Oo et al, 2021).…”