Evaluation of implementation of ministry of health's planning approach for health care providers and Behvarzes in Healthcare centers and Healthposts in Zahedan

Background This study evaluates the implementation of the Ministry of Health’s educational package on oral health among Health Care Providers (HCPs) and health volunteers (Behvarz) in Zahedan. The research focuses on assessing knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) before and after the intervention, with the goal of identifying areas for improvement and providing evidence-based recommendations for policy and practice. Methods A cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study was conducted among 395 participants, including 104 health volunteers and 291 health care providers. Pre- and post-test KAP scores were measured using a validated questionnaire designed to assess the impact of a structured educational intervention. The study included theoretical and practical workshops led by dental experts. Data were analyzed using paired t-tests, ANCOVA, and descriptive statistics to evaluate changes in KAP and assess demographic influences, including age, gender, and work experience. Results The intervention led to significant improvements in KAP scores across all participants. Behvarz consistently outperformed HCPs in both pre- and post-test scores. For knowledge, post-test mean scores were 6.63 ± 2.01 for Behvarz and 5.58 ± 1.33 for HCPs (p < 0.001). Attitude scores increased from 28.98 ± 4.67 to 36.88 ± 9.35 for Behvarz and from 25.81 ± 2.79 to 33.29 ± 8.16 for HCPs (p = 0.001). Practice scores improved from 22.10 ± 5.45 to 25.93 ± 8.08 for Behvarz and from 17.55 ± 3.85 to 23.19 ± 7.03 for HCPs (p = 0.081). Gender differences were not statistically significant, but older participants and those with more work experience showed higher scores. Post-test KAP scores in the intervention group were significantly higher than the control group (p < 0.001). Conclusion The educational package significantly enhanced oral health KAP among health care providers and volunteers, particularly Behvarz. These findings highlight the effectiveness of structured, community-oriented interventions in improving healthcare delivery.