Improving Oral Health With Serious Games
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Completed
- Sponsor
- University of Washington
- Enrollment
- 161
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Self-Efficacy
Study Overview
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.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Parallel
- Primary Purpose
- Prevention
- Masking
- Single (Participant)
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 8 Years to 12 Years (Child)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- Yes
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
- Not provided
Arms & Interventions
Video Game Treatment
This group received the AOTSM game experience followed by additional oral health information. They did not receive any follow-up treatment after the exhibit.
Intervention: Attack of the S. Mutans (Other)
Video Game Treatment Plus 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.
Intervention: Attack of the S. Mutans (Other)
Control
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.
Intervention: SnowWorld (Other)
Video Game Treatment Plus 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.
Intervention: Follow-up (Other)
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Self-Efficacy
Time Frame: 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 Outcomes
- Self-care behavior(8 months post treatment)
Investigators
Jacqueline E. Pickrell
Acting Assistant Professor, Oral Health Sciences
University of Washington