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Completed

NCT Number: NCT02027597

Improving Oral Health With Serious Games

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.

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Key information

Conditions

Caries Behavior Cavities Coitus Dental Caries Gingival Diseases Gingivitis Infections Mouth Diseases Periodontal Diseases Sexual Behavior Stomatognathic Diseases Tooth Decay Tooth Demineralization Tooth Diseases

Age range

8 year–12 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Firsthand Technology Inc.

Seattle, Washington, 98112, United States

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

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

Treatment and study plan

Attack of the S. Mutans

Other

A research assistant led groups of students through the Attack of the S. Mutans exhibit. All participants played all the games and viewed all the graphical content of the exhibit.

Other names: AOTSM

Follow-up

Other

This group experienced the Attack of the S. Mutans! exhibit and 3 doses of follow-up booster content at a web site.

SnowWorld

Other

SnowWorld is a 3D first-person-shooter game developed by Firsthand Technology. In SnowWorld, the player shoots snowballs at penguins, polar bears, and other features of a frozen landscape. The game is designed to help burn victims cope with pain, and has no oral health messages.

Primary outcomes

  1. 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

  1. Self-care behavior

    Time frame: 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.

Other outcomes

  1. Oral health literacy

    Time frame: 8 months post treatment

    we assessed children's oral health knowledge in two ways. First, children reported their overall oral health knowledge using three-point rating scales (=not really to 3=mostly) to respond to six items, including, "By brushing and flossing my teeth, I am less susceptible to tooth decay." Negatively worded items were reverse-coded, and the estimated internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) of the pre-game survey was.49. Second, children indicated their brushing knowledge using five-point rating scales (1=strongly disagree to 5=strongly agree) to respond to four items, including "Tooth brushing gets rid of bad breath."

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Washington

Other

Collaborators

  • National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
  • National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)

Registry information

Acronym: AOTSM

Important dates

Study start
2008
Primary completion
2010
Study completion
2011
First posted
Jan 6, 2014
Registry last updated
Jan 6, 2014

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

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This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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