Ala Al-Musawi1, Mona Al-Sane2, Lars Andersson1. 1. Department of Surgical Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Health Sciences Center, Kuwait University, Kuwait City, Kuwait. 2. Department of Developmental and Preventive Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Health Sciences Center, Kuwait University, Kuwait City, Kuwait.
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM: The initial response by bystanders to an avulsed tooth is a significant factor that can affect its survival and long-term outcome. This study was to assess the knowledge of emergency management of tooth avulsion in a group of schoolteachers and to compare the effects of three different educational interventions. METHODS: Baseline knowledge was assessed using a questionnaire developed for this study. The same questionnaire was used to test changes in the knowledge level following each educational intervention. A convenience sample of elementary and intermediate school teachers (n = 87) participated in this study. Teachers were divided into three groups: Group 1 (Lecture only) was given a 30-min lecture on the emergency management of tooth avulsion. Their knowledge was assessed immediately after the lecture. Group 2 (Lecture and App), the same lecture was given, but participants also had access to a smartphone App, Dental Trauma App (Dental Trauma AB, Linköping, Sweden), when assessed on their knowledge after the lecture. Group 3 (App), this group was only given the smartphone App to explore and had access to that when being assessed. RESULTS: All three interventions increased the knowledge of tooth avulsion management. A marked increase in the knowledge, regardless of the type of intervention, was observed in the following areas: handling the tooth on the ground (16-96.8%); holding the tooth while being cleansed (19.1-62.5%); and on the best storage medium (10.1-59.3%). Participants using the App only had a significantly higher mean score than participants receiving the lecture only (group 3; P = 0.019) and participants subjected to both Lecture and App (group 1; P = 0.000). CONCLUSION: The Dental Trauma App alone is an effective means of providing accessible knowledge to guide laypeople in managing tooth avulsion, and it can be superior to a lecture-based delivery of information.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND/AIM: The initial response by bystanders to an avulsed tooth is a significant factor that can affect its survival and long-term outcome. This study was to assess the knowledge of emergency management of tooth avulsion in a group of schoolteachers and to compare the effects of three different educational interventions. METHODS: Baseline knowledge was assessed using a questionnaire developed for this study. The same questionnaire was used to test changes in the knowledge level following each educational intervention. A convenience sample of elementary and intermediate school teachers (n = 87) participated in this study. Teachers were divided into three groups: Group 1 (Lecture only) was given a 30-min lecture on the emergency management of tooth avulsion. Their knowledge was assessed immediately after the lecture. Group 2 (Lecture and App), the same lecture was given, but participants also had access to a smartphone App, Dental Trauma App (Dental Trauma AB, Linköping, Sweden), when assessed on their knowledge after the lecture. Group 3 (App), this group was only given the smartphone App to explore and had access to that when being assessed. RESULTS: All three interventions increased the knowledge of tooth avulsion management. A marked increase in the knowledge, regardless of the type of intervention, was observed in the following areas: handling the tooth on the ground (16-96.8%); holding the tooth while being cleansed (19.1-62.5%); and on the best storage medium (10.1-59.3%). Participants using the App only had a significantly higher mean score than participants receiving the lecture only (group 3; P = 0.019) and participants subjected to both Lecture and App (group 1; P = 0.000). CONCLUSION: The Dental Trauma App alone is an effective means of providing accessible knowledge to guide laypeople in managing tooth avulsion, and it can be superior to a lecture-based delivery of information.
Authors: Magdalena Nowosielska; Joanna Bagińska; Agnieszka Kobus; Anna Kierklo Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-02-21 Impact factor: 3.390