An education intervention to improve oral health knowledge and behaviour in learners: A cluster randomized controlled trial

Type Journal Article - South African Dental Journal
Title An education intervention to improve oral health knowledge and behaviour in learners: A cluster randomized controlled trial
Author(s)
Volume 72
Issue 4
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2017
Page numbers 167-172
URL http://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0011-85162017000400007
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Preventive dental services are required to reduce the burden of caries and oral disease in children.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of three, as opposed to one, oral health education lessons in influencing the oral health related behaviour and knowledge in Grade 5 learners.
STUDY DESIGN: Cluster randomized controlled trial.
METHODS: Participants: Ten public primary schools (5 intervention, 5 control) in Verulam; 337 grade 5 learners in each arm. Control arm: Viewing of an oral health education video. Intervention arm: As above repeated at three month intervals over nine months. Randomisation: At cluster level; schools randomly assigned to intervention and control arm after consent was obtained from individual participants; therefore participants remained blinded to which arm of the study they were assigned.
RESULTS: A significant improvement in oral health knowledge and practice was noted for both groups after the intervention (p < 0.05). However, the intervention group returned significantly better results compared with the control for all categories except toothbrush ownership, brushing frequency and knowledge of when to replace toothbrushes.
CONCLUSION: Repeated education resulted in significant improvements in the knowledge and oral health behaviour of learners compared with the responses after one oral health lesson.

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