Effectiveness of different modes of school dental health education on oral health status of tribal school children aged 6-12 years in Salem district – A randomized control trial.
Overview
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Recruiting
- Sponsor
- Mothirajathi K
- Enrollment
- 350
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- 1.deft/DMFT Index
Overview
Brief Summary
This randomized control trial evaluates the effectiveness of two School Dental Health Education (SDHE) methods—flashcards and a modified Snake and Ladder game—among tribal school children aged 6–12 years in Salem district, Tamil Nadu.
- A sample of 350 children (175 per group) from four randomly selected boarding schools receive SDHE through either flashcards (control) or a game-based method (intervention), with assessments at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months.
- Objectives: To compare the effectiveness of game-based vs. traditional flashcard SDHE.
Key Assessments:
- Oral health indices (deft/DMFT, Gingival Index, Simplified Oral Hygiene Index)
- Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) questionnaire
- Child Oral Health Impact Profile – Short Form (COHIP-SF) for quality of life
Expected Outcomes:
- Enhanced oral health status and knowledge in children receiving game-based SDHE.
Implications:
The study provides evidence-based guidance for implementing culturally appropriate, engaging SDHE methods in tribal schools. It supports the integration of oral health education into school curricula to improve child health outcomes in underserved communities.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Masking
- Outcome Assessor Blinded
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 6.00 Year(s) to 12.00 Year(s) (—)
- Sex
- All
Inclusion Criteria
- •1.Tribal school children aged 6-12 years residing in Salem district.
- •2.Children of the parent who give consent for participating in the study.
Exclusion Criteria
- •1.Children with high caries rate and severe crowding.
- •2.Children with any diagnosed systemic illness.
- •3.Children with special health care needs will be excluded from the study.
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
1.deft/DMFT Index
Time Frame: Baseline,3 and 6 months
2.Gingival Index
Time Frame: Baseline,3 and 6 months
3.Simplified oral hygiene Index
Time Frame: Baseline,3 and 6 months
4.Knowledge, attitude and practice questionnaire
Time Frame: Baseline,3 and 6 months
5.Child oral health impact profile- short form(COHIP-SF) Questionnaire.
Time Frame: Baseline,3 and 6 months
Secondary Outcomes
- 1.Knowledge, attitude and practice(KAP) questionnaire(2.Child Oral Health Impact Profile- Short Form(COHIP- SF) Questionnaire.)
Investigators
MOTHIRAJATHI K
KSR Institute of Dental Science and Research