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.
Crossref Cited-by Linking logo
  • Abstract
  • Keywords
  • References
  • Cite This Article as
  • Corresponding Author

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.

  1. Patro BK, Ravi Kumar B, Goswami A, Mathur VP, Nongkynrih B. Prevalence of dental caries among adults and elderly in an urban resettlement colony of New Delhi. Indian J Dent Res 2008; 19:95-8 2.
  2. Nakre PD. Harikiran AG. Effectiveness of oral health education program: A systematic review. J Int Soc Prev Community Dent 2013; 3:103-15.
  3. 7th Global Conference on Health Promotion [internet]. World Health Organization. [cited 1 May 2014]. Available from http://www.who.int/healthpromotion/conferences/7gchp/en/
  4. Yazdani R, Vehkalahti MM, Nouri M, Murtomaa H. School based education to improve oral cleanliness and gingival health in adolescents in Tehran, Iran. Int J Paediatr Dent. 2009 Jul; 19(4):274-81.
  5. Local action creating health promoting schools. WHO information series on school health.[Internet][citedMay1];Availablefrom:http://www.who.int/school_youth_health/media/en/sch_local_action_en.pdf
  6. Booth ML, Samdal O. Health-promoting schools in Australia: models and measurement. Aust N Z J Public Health. 1997; 21(4 Spec No):365-70.
  7. Balappanavar AY, Sardana V, Hegde P.Social Networking and Oral Health Education. International Journal of Scientific Study 2013;01(1):16-9.
  8. Mattheos N, Stefanovic N, Apse P, Attstrom R, Buchanan J, Brown P, Camilleri A, Care R, Fabrikant E, Gundersen S, Honkala S, Johnson L, Jonas I, Kavadella A, Moreira J, Peroz I, Perryer DG, Seemann R, Tansy M, Thomas HF, Tsuruta J, Uribe S, Urtane I, Walsh TF, Zimmerman J, Walmsley AD. Potential of information technology in dental education. Eur J Dent Educ 2008; 12 Suppl 1:85-92.
  9. Rajesh G, Prasad KV, Mohanty VR, Javali, SB. Effect of various methods of oral health education on oral health status of high school children in Gadag town ? randomized control trial. J Indian Assoc Public Health Dent 2008; 11: 41-5.
  10. Sharma R, Hebbal M, Ankola A, Murugabupathy V. Mobile-phone text messaging (SMS) for providing oral health education to mothers of preschool children in Belgaum City. Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare 2011; 17: 432?436.
  11. Hashemian TS, Kritz‐Silverstein D, Baker R. Text2Floss: The feasibility and acceptability of a text messaging intervention to improve oral health behavior and knowledge. Journal of Public Health Dentistry 2015;75(1):34-41.
  12. Shenoy RP, Sequeria PS. Effectiveness of school dental education program in improving oral health knowledge and oral hygiene practices and status of 12 -13 year old school children. Indian J Dent Res 2010; 21: 253-9.
  13. Haleem A, Siddiqui MI, Khan AA. School-based strategies for oral health education of adolescents - A cluster randomized controlled trial. BMC Oral Health 2012;12(1):54.
  14. Bannink R, Joosten-van Zwanenburg E, van de Looij-Jansen P, van As E, Raat H. Evaluation of computer ? tailored health education (?E-health4Uth?) combined with personal counselling (?E-health4Uth+counselling?) on adolescents? behaviour and mental health status: design of a three-armed cluster randomized controlled trail. BMC Public Health 2012; 12:1083.
  15. D?cruz AM, Aradhaya S. impact of oral health education on oral hygiene knowledge, practices, plaque control and gingival health of 13-15 year old school children in Bangalore city. Int J Dent Hygiene 2013; 11:126-33.
  16. Garbin CA, Queiroz AP, Garbin AJ, Moimaz SA, Soares GB. Comparision of methods in oral health education from the perspective of adolescents. Oral health Prev Dent 2013; 11: 39-47.
  17. Suprabha BS, Rao A, Shenoy R, Khanal S. Utility of knowledge, attitude, and practice survey, and prevalence of dental caries among 11 to 13 year old children in an urban community in India. Global health Action 2013; 6:10.

[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: http://dx.doi.org/10.21474/IJAR01/4654

Download Full Paper

Download PDF No. of Downloads: 39 | No. of Views: 159