Effectiveness of Conventional vs Game Based Oral Health Education on Oral Health Related Knowledge Among School Children in Selected Schools of D&NH

Introduction: Overall health and dental health are interdependent and have an impact on one another. The main risk factors for a number of oral diseases are poor oral health habits, smoking, alcohol consumption, and improper food. tooth caries, tooth erosion, periodontitis, oral cancer, and numerous other disorders affecting the soft tissues of the mouth are all influenced by diet. Aim: The main aim of study is to determine the effectiveness of conventional and game based oral health education on the oral health related knowledge among school children. Methodology: A quasi-experimental pre-test post-test with comparison group design was adopted. 300 school children were selected from Galonda and Khanvel central primary school, Dadra & Nagar Haveli through Non probability, convenient sampling technique and assigned 150 children from Galonda school as Game based group and 150 children from Khanvel school as Conventional based group. Data was collected from 04.09.24 to 30.09.24. Structured interview schedule was used to assess the knowledge of children regarding oral health. Health teaching regarding oral health through flashcard was given and another group children were made to play snake and ladder game for 7 days under the supervision of the investigator. Post test was conducted on the 8th day after intervention for both groups (game based and conventional group). Result: The findings of the study revealed that in pre-test, majority of the children 119(79.3%) in game-based group and 132(88.6%) in conventional based group had moderately adequate knowledge and none of them had adequate knowledge in both groups whereas in post-test 150(100%) children in game-based group and 141(94%) in conventional based group had adequate level of knowledge. Conventional group the overall mean pre-test knowledge score was 12.69 and post-test mean knowledge score was 23.56 revealing the difference in mean score of 10.87. Game based group the overall mean pre-test knowledge score was 11.57 and post-test mean knowledge score was 24.82 revealing the difference in mean knowledge score of 13.25. Significant difference was found between area wise and overall scores of post-test between game based group and conventional based group (t = 6.97) at p< 0.001 level of significance. There is no association with knowledge scores of school children at 0.05 level of significant. Conclusion: Both methods are effective but Game based method is more effective than the Conventional method to improve the oral health related knowledge of school children.