28Jun 2017

ROLE OF MOBILE/PHONE TEXT MESSAGING (SMS) FOR PROVIDING ORAL HEALTH EDUCATION TO MOTHERS OF PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN IN MANGALORE CITY: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL.

  • PG student, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Mangalore ? 575001, Manipal University, Karnataka, india.
  • Professor and Head Department of Public Health Dentistry, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Mangalore ? 575001, Manipal University, Karnataka, india.
  • Professor, Department of Public Health Dentistry Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Mangalore ? 575001, Manipal University, Karnataka, india.
  • Associate Professor, Department of Public Health Dentistry Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Mangalore ? 575001, Manipal University, Karnataka, india.
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Background:- Advances in information technology has changed lifestyles of people all over the world. Exploring various possibilities that employ technology for disseminating preventive information to the community is crucial. Objectives: To determine and compare the effects of phone text messaging (SMS), e-mail messaging, and pamphlets on oral health knowledge and attitude of the mothers of primary school children in Mangalore city. Methods: A randomized control trial design was employed. Overall, 220 primary school students were selected by stratified random sampling and were randomly allocated to 4 groups: Phone text messaging (SMS), e-mail messaging, pamphlets and control. Oral health education was delivered every week during the intervention period. Oral health knowledge and attitude of mother was assessed pre and post intervention by questionnaire. Subjects were followed for a period of 6 months. Results: Final knowledge scores for groups I-IV were 8.8?1.54, 7.1?1.84, 9.3?1.50 and 4.3?1.81 respectively. Final awareness scores for groups I-IV were 8.8?1.4, 7.6?1.37, 7.5?1.63 and 4.9?2.06 respectively. There were significant improvements in knowledge and attitude scores in phone (SMS), e-mail and pamphlet group (p<0.05). Pamphlet group was better than mobile and email groups in improving behavior scores (p<0.05). Mobile group was significantly better than e-mail and pamphlets (p<0.05) in improving the attitude scores. Conclusion: SMS messages by phones was effective in improving the attitudes of study subject. Text messaging has the potential to reach large number of individuals at relatively low cost and may be cost effective when compared with conventional methods.

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[Richa Gupta, Rajesh G, Ashwini Rao and Ramya Shenoy. (2017); ROLE OF MOBILE/PHONE TEXT MESSAGING (SMS) FOR PROVIDING ORAL HEALTH EDUCATION TO MOTHERS OF PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN IN MANGALORE CITY: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL. Int. J. of Adv. Res. 5 (Jun). 2154-2160] (ISSN 2320-5407). www.journalijar.com

Dr. Guru Raghavendran Rajesh
Professor & Head, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Mangalore – 575001, Manipal University, Karnataka, INDIA

DOI:

Article DOI: 10.21474/IJAR01/4654      
DOI URL: https://dx.doi.org/10.21474/IJAR01/4654

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