EVALUATION OF SMART PHONE APPLICATION IN AWARENESS OF TRAUMATIC INJURIES OF PERMANENT TEETH

Abstract Aim: This cross-sectional study aimed to compare the effectiveness of a smartphone application, PowerPoint lecture, or their combination in increasing awareness about managing traumatic injuries of permanent teeth among primary school teachers, nurses, and parents. Subjects and methods: The study involved 135 participants divided into three groups of 45 each: teachers, nurses, and parents. Each group was further randomized into three subgroups of 15 participants each, using one of the following awareness methods: smartphone application only, 30-minute PowerPoint lecture only, or both methods combined. Results: Most participants were female, aged 31-40. Teachers and parents mostly held bachelor’s degrees, while nurses had high school or diploma education. All educational methods effectively increased knowledge about traumatic dental injuries (TDIs), with 80%-100% of participants choosing correct answers after intervention. The combined method was the most effective, followed by the smartphone application, and then the lecture, with significant differences between them. Conclusion: All educational methods significantly improved knowledge of TDIs. The combined method had the greatest impact, followed by the application and lecture. Teachers showed the highest improvement, then parents, and finally nurses.