School-based Oral Health Education Program Using Experiential Learning

The aim of this project was to compare the effectiveness of experiential learning (EL) and traditional lecturing (TL) school-based oral health education on the oral health knowledge, attitude, habits, oral hygiene, gingival health and caries incidence of 10 and 13-year-old Greek children. Thee hundred and fifty children were selected from three areas of Greece. Information on oral health knowledge, attitude and behaviour were obtained using a questionnaire. Dental plaque was recorded using a modified hygiene index, gingivitis was assessed using the simplified gingival index and dental caries was measured by recording the number of Decayed, Missing and Filled teeth (DMFT) using the British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry (BASCD) criteria. All children were examined by two calibrated dentists, using a World Health Organisation (WHO) periodontal probe and artificial light. Questionnaires were delivered and clinical examinations were performed at baseline and at 6 and 18 months post-intervention. The EL oral health educational program was implemented by teachers using the program's manual.

Completed

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Key information

Conditions

Caries Gingival Diseases Gingivitis Infections Mouth Diseases Periodontal Diseases Stomatognathic Diseases

Age range

9 year–14 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

10 and 13 year-old children
For the EL group, students were recruited from schools that had teachers previously trained in EL
Students recruited for the TL group attended schools of the same geographical location as students in the EL group

Exclusion criteria

Contributory medical history

Treatment and study plan

Experiential learning oral health education

Behavioral

Primary outcomes

Change from baseline in dental plaque, gingivitis and caries at 6 and 18 months in 350 children

Time frame: baseline, 6 and 18 months

350 children were clinically examined and dental plaque, gingivitis and caries were recorded using appropriate indexes. 6 and 18 months later, children were re-examined using the same method to test if there was any change on the dental plaque, gingivitis and caries level and if this change differ significantly between the two different oral health education groups (Experiential learning or Traditional Lecturing).

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Matina Angelopoulou

Other

Registry information

Official study title

"School-based Oral Health Education Program Using Experiential Learning or Traditional Lecturing in Children and Adolescents: a Clinical Trial"

Important dates

Study start: 2010
Primary completion: 2012
Study completion: 2012
First posted: Dec 19, 2014
Registry last updated: Aug 30, 2017

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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Completed