A pre-experimental study to assess the effectiveness of planned teaching programme on knowledge regarding dental hygiene among school going children of Sultan-ul-Arifeen Senior Secondary School Rainawari Srinagar

Introduction

Every tooth in a man’s head is more valuable than a diamond." Miguel de Cervantes Oral health is an integral component of general health. It is also clear that causative and risk factors in oral diseases are often the same as those implicated in major general diseases. Oral hygiene refers to keeping the mouth, and particularly the teeth, clean and free of dental plaque. Considerable population of children in the developing nations is being affected by tooth decay and most of the time; their proper treatment is given the last priority owing to limited access to oral health services. The high prevalence of dental caries has also caused increase in the absenteeism of school hours and loss of working hours and economy for parents.1 Dental caries is the major oral health condition in developing countries, affecting 60-90% of the school children and vast majority of adults. In India, the prevalence of dental caries is reported to be 50-60% as evidenced by the study conducted by Swarthy Chanda ran on effectiveness of child to child approach on knowledge regarding practices of oral hygiene among school going children at selected schools of Bangalore.2 In Jammu and Kashmir, the prevalence of dental caries is reported to be 1.8% up to the age of 5years,1.1% up to the age of 12 years,1.9% up to the age of 15 years,5.7% up to the age of 35 to 44 years,18.4% up to the age of 65 to 75 years as evidenced by the study conducted by Nimranjeet Kaur et al on “Oral Health Profile Of J&K”. Though dental caries prevention in school going children has declined in most of the industrialized countries over the last two decades, but it is still high in developing countries including India. Despite great achievements in overall health of populations globally, problems still remain in many countries all over the world- particularly among under –privileged groups in developed and developing countries.3

Health is not complete without oral health and health for all by the year 2025 can only be achieved through the medium of primary health care approach. The concept of dental health under the theme “Health for all by 2025 A.D” is a significant issue among human beings because 95% of all human beings have one or other dental problem at least once in their life time.4

Oral disease is a significant burden to all countries of the world. The WHO approach to improvement of oral health globally is formulated by the World Health Assembly 2007 Resolution "Oral health: action plan for promotion and integrated prevention".5

Children who have dental caries in their primary dentition are more likely to have dental caries in permanent dentition. Growing children need proper guidance for healthy growth, upkeep and hygiene of their teeth. Permanent teeth erupt during the school age years. Good dental hygiene and regular attention to dental caries are vital parts of health supervise during this period. Correct brushing techniques and the role of fermentable carbohydrates in production of dental caries should be taught or reinforced. The objective of this study is to identify oral hygiene practice patterns among school going children. Oral health promotion through schools is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for improving knowledge, attitude, and behaviour related to oral health and for prevention and control of dental diseases among school children.

Age is an important factor for maintaining oral hygiene, as increasing the age children can realize the importance of care of teeth and they emphasize on oral hygiene maintenance. Parents, teachers, other Personnel’s and media are important factors to motivate the children to maintain oral hygiene. The role of self-perception of health status, especially in early schooling years, may need to be explored further as those with more positive perceptions were seen to have more correct oral hygiene practices. This warrants a multi-pronged, multi-level intervention integrating oral health into the school curriculum beginning early schooling is needed.6

School is a place of learning for the children and is in fact micro cosmos of the larger community. Schools are the ideal setting for integrating oral health instruction in their curriculum. Health education to school children in their formative age is the most effective method for protection and promotion of their health. Children in schools and family need to be considered as partners in spreading health messages which are beneficial for them. At the school age, children are receptive to guidance and familiar with the learning environment and culture. Oral diseases are largely preventable; nevertheless dental carries continue to be a major problem amongst school children.7

The need of this study is that tooth loss, dental caries or cavities is a global problem not only in children but also in adults. The incidence and prevalence of permanent damage or caries in teeth have been increasing day by day, although tooth decay is preventable. Teeth can last a lifetime if we take care of them right and the best to start as they begin appearing. School going children is the period where permanent tooth begins to erupt & children who had caries in their primary dentition will likely to have caries in their permanent dentition. Growing children need proper education and even proper guidance. The foundation for permanent healthy teeth is laid during early childhood. With the eruption of the first permanent teeth (from about 6 years on), the mouth contains a mixture of both primary and permanent teeth, which puts children at increased risk of caries. Furthermore, any primary teeth with caries form reservoirs of bacteria, which can easily attack the immature enamel of the new permanent teeth.

The researcher chose this study because considerable population of children in the developing nations is being affected by tooth decay and less focus is given on its treatment so the study was conducted to assess and deliver the knowledge regarding dental hygiene, proper technique for brushing, prevention from dental caries and management of dental problems. Maintaining dental hygiene in early stage of life can prevent major dental problems later. School is a place of learning for the children and is an ideal setting for integrating dental health instructions. Moreover the oral diseases are largely preventable nevertheless dental caries continue to be a major problem among school children.

Problem Statement

A Pre-experimental study to assess the effectiveness of planned teaching program on knowledge regarding “dental hygiene” among school going children of sultan-ul-arifeen senior secondary school rainawari Srinagar.

Objectives

Research design

It is a plan of how, when and where data is to be collected and analysed.

It is the researcher’s overall plan for answering the research questions or testing the research hypotheses.8

Pre- experimental one group pre test and post test design is adopted for this study.

Table 1

Diagramatic representation of research design.

Group	Pre test assessment of knowledge	Structured teaching programme	Post test assessment of knowledge
45 selected samples of school gping children in a selected school	O1	X	O2

[i] O₁ – Pre test assessment of knowledge X – Structured teaching programme O₂ – Post test assessment of knowledge.

Figure 1

Research design one group pretest post test.

Variables of The Study

Method of Teaching

Lecture and discussion method was used as appropriate method of teaching dental hygiene to the school going children at Sultan-ul-Arfeen school. The A.V. aids used during teaching the dental hygiene were pictures and videos. The evaluation of PTP was conducted through post test after 5 days of the implementation of the PTP by using structured knowledge questionnaire.

Summary

The study was pre-experimental in nature and was conducted in Sultan-ul-Arfeen school. The sample for the study were the school going children who were selected by stratified random sampling technique. A structured self administered questionnaire was prepared and the same questionnaire was used to collect the information in both stages of the study. The collected data was analysed by using descriptive and inferential statistics and was presented in the form of tables and graphs.

Descriptive Statistics

Frequency and percentage were used to describe sample characteristics.

Mean, Median, Mode, Range and Standard deviation were used to assess the knowledge of respondents.

Inferential Statistics

Wilcoxon signed Rank test was used to compare pre-test and post-test knowledge.

Result

From the above table it is evident that there was a significant improvement in knowledge regarding subject dental hygiene among school children after the introduction of planned teaching programme with t=-5.844, p<0.000.

Conclusion

The following conclusion was drawn based on the findings of the study:

As per the pretest knowledge score, it was found that the mean value was 18.2667, mean percentage was 45.66 and range of score was between 10 -29. As per the posttest knowledge score, it was found that mean value was 37.60, mean percentage was 95.55, range of score was between 25-40. The mean difference between the pretest and posttest level of knowledge was 19.34. The calculated z value is -5.844 and p value is 0.000 which was highly significant.

Hence, it can concluded from above the findings that majority of students had adequate post-test level of knowledge after administration of planned teaching programs regarding dental hygiene.

The research hypothesis is accepted. It shows that knowledge of students significantly increased.

Source of Funding

None.

Conflict of Interest

None.