A comparison of dentist-led, teacher-led, peer-led and self-learning strategies for educating school children aged 10-13 years about prevention of oral diseases including tooth decay, gum disease and oral cancer

Not Applicable

Completed

Conditions: Oral Health
Preventing dental caries, gingivitis and oral cancer
Oral health education for preventing dental caries, gingivitis and oral cancer

Recruitment & Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria

Schools (clusters):
Public and private schools including both boys? and girls? schools in the two selected towns of Karachi, Pakistan

Study subjects:
Students of randomly chosen sections (one per school) of class six in the selected schools with a positive parental consent

Exclusion Criteria

Schools:
1. The schools having only one section of class six
2. Schools having less than thirty five students per section

Study subjects:
1. Students with a negative parental consent
2. Students not willing to participate

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Assessed through an oral examination of the study subjects included: <br>1. Incidence and severity of dental caries measured through Decayed, Missing and Filled Teeth index (DMFT) which indicated the number of teeth affected by dental caries in an individual?s mouth<br>2. Change in the prevalence and incidence of oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF)<br>3. Improvement of oral hygiene status (OHS) measured through a decrease in the number of sextants of oral cavity having dental plaque, bleeding on probing and calculus. The total OHS score for an individual ranged from 0 to 12.<br>Measures were repeated five times (including baseline in January 2004) for the dentist-led, teacher-led, peer-led groups in February 2004 (evaluation I), August 2004 (evaluation II), August 2005 (evaluation III) and February 2006 (evaluation IV). The self learning and control groups were measured at baseline and at evaluation IV with the other study groups

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
1. Knowledge about oral health (OHK) measured on a scale with scores ranging from 0 to 12<br>2. Preventive oral health behavior (OHB) about gingivitis and OSMF/ oral cancer measured on a scale having scores ranging from 0 to 12<br>Measures were repeated five times (including baseline in January 2004) for the dentist-led, teacher-led, peer-led groups in February 2004 (evaluation I), August 2004 (evaluation II), August 2005 (evaluation III) and February 2006 (evaluation IV). The self learning and control groups were measured at baseline and at evaluation IV with the other study groups