Improving Oral Health With Serious Games

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Caries; Tooth Decay; Cavities; Gingivitis
• Interventions: Other: Attack of the S. Mutans; Other: SnowWorld; Other: Follow-up

• Registration Number: NCT02027597
• Lead Sponsor: University of Washington

Brief Summary

This study investigated if computer games can be effective at changing the way children take care of their teeth. We a museum exhibit with 3D virtual reality games called "Attack of the S. Mutans!" Our hypothesis was that children who played the games and visited the exhibit would show improved attitudes about oral health, which would translate into improved brushing and self-care habits.

In this randomized controlled study with school children aged 8-12, we compared the outcomes for three groups: Group 1) Visited Attack of the S. Mutans!; Group 2) Experienced a hands-on classroom presentation about virtual reality being used for healthcare; Group 3) Received no-treatment.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2008-10
• Primary Completion: 2010-12
• Study Completion: 2011-08
• Status Verified: 2014-01
• Study First Submitted: 2014-01-02
• Study First Submitted QC: 2014-01-03
• Last Update Submitted: 2014-01-03
• Study First Posted: 2014-01-06
• Last Update Posted: 2014-01-06

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 161

Inclusion Criteria

For participation in the study, enrollment criteria are as follows: 1) a dentist's diagnosis of tooth decay, or restorative dental work in the previous year; and 2) Parents or guardians provide usable baseline data, including contact information for follow-up questionnaires.

Exclusion Criteria

None

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Video Game Treatment	Attack of the S. Mutans	This group received the AOTSM game experience followed by additional oral health information. They did not receive any follow-up treatment after the exhibit.
Control	SnowWorld	Instead of playing Attack of the S. Mutans!, children in the control group attended a 90 minute classroom session about virtual reality applications for relieving pain and for therapy. This content was unrelated to oral health.
Video Game Treatment Plus Follow-Up	Attack of the S. Mutans	Children assigned to the Treatment-Plus conditions not only had the Attack of the S. Mutans video game experience, but also gained access to an educational website that reinforced the exhibit's teachings two months later. These students received a special login and password in the mail and were instructed to visit the site before completing their next questionnaire.
Video Game Treatment Plus Follow-Up	Follow-up	Children assigned to the Treatment-Plus conditions not only had the Attack of the S. Mutans video game experience, but also gained access to an educational website that reinforced the exhibit's teachings two months later. These students received a special login and password in the mail and were instructed to visit the site before completing their next questionnaire.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Self-Efficacy	8 months post treatment	Follow-up surveys were conducted at 3 points after the intervention for all groups. The survey included questions about the children's attitudes (self-efficacy) toward oral health and taking care of their teeth. Surveys were paper-pencil self-reports from both parents and children. Items were drawn from Morowatisharifabad and Shirazi, (2007) and adapted for ease of understanding for English speaking children.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Self-care behavior	8 months post treatment	Separate surveys of children and their parents were conducted at 3 points after the intervention all groups. The survey included questions about how often and how well the children took care of their teeth.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Firsthand Technology Inc.; 🇺🇸 Seattle, Washington, United States