Video-Assisted Learning for Oral Health Knowledge in Children: A Pre-post Intervention Study

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Pediatric Dentistry
• Health Education

Background:

• Tooth decay is a prevalent childhood disease.
• Community-based, personalized, and digital interventions are increasingly recognized for improving oral healthcare.
• Targeting high-need populations is crucial for effective public health initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a four-week, video-based oral health intervention program for schoolchildren.
• To assess the impact of digital education on oral hygiene practices and dental health knowledge.
• To determine the long-term retention of improved oral health knowledge and behaviors.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 108 students (mean age 9.24 years) from two Lisbon schools with high decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) indices participated.
• The intervention involved weekly educational videos on oral health topics, delivered over four weeks.
• Pre-intervention, post-intervention, and three-month follow-up assessments were conducted, with statistical analysis using repeated-measures ANOVA and McNemar tests.

Main Results:

• Following the intervention, the percentage of children brushing twice daily increased from 77.8% to 85.2%, and daily flossing increased from 42.6% to 49.1%.
• Mean dental health knowledge scores significantly improved from baseline (9.47) to post-intervention (11.24) and were maintained at follow-up (9.99).
• The improvements in knowledge and behavior were statistically significant (p < 0.01 for post-intervention, p = 0.014 for follow-up).

Conclusions:

• A video-based, digitally delivered oral health intervention effectively enhanced children's engagement and knowledge.
• This study demonstrates the potential of digital education strategies in improving pediatric oral health outcomes.
• Community-based digital health education programs can be a valuable tool for promoting better oral hygiene in school settings.