Qualitative study of an oral health education program

Abstract Introduction Oral health education has been based on the assumptions of banking education (BE). The aim is to substitute this with popular education (PE) characterized by dialogical construction. This qualitative study aims to understand the perception of those involved in a health education program, conducted in the state of Santa Catarina. Methods Data collection was carried out with 4 focus groups, one in each city visited, involving 3 to 12 teachers and administrators in each group. Results Content analysis by Bardin resulted in three categories: Perceptions about methodological aspects, content and participants. Conclusions The program was perceived as an opportunity to share experiences regarding oral health, including school work. We identified two practices of educational concepts (BE and PE), denoting transition traits and difficulty to achieve this exchange explained by the features of the program and the historical processes in the field of oral health.