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. 2014 Nov 20;5(3):87-90.
eCollection 2014 Jul.

A multimedia oral health promoting project in primary schools in central Italy

Iole Vozza  1 , Fabrizio Guerra  1 , Massimiliano Marchionne  1 , Ercole Bove  1 , Denise Corridore  1 , Livia Ottolenghi  1
Affiliations

A multimedia oral health promoting project in primary schools in central Italy

Iole Vozza et al. Ann Stomatol (Roma). .

Abstract

Aim: The purpose of the study Project was to test the effectiveness of a multimedia game designed in order to attract the attention of primary school children to oral health basic concepts and use the instrument to assess students' knowledge.

Materials and methods: An originally designed multimedia game on oral health was administered in the computer class rooms, before (T0) and after (T1) an educational stage, to third (8-9 years) and fifth graders (10-11 years) of primary schools in urban and rural areas of two provinces of medium-small cities in Center Italy (Terni and Latina). Considered variables were: age, gender, school time schedule (only antemeridian, extended schedule). The statistical test used was the non-parametric Wilcox on signed-rank test.

Results: Response rate was 90.6% (due to absence on the due date). 1,300 students were involved. Overall, the average of the correct answers was 40.7% before oral health lessons and 59.2% after. An improving trend of correct answers was recorded from T0 to T1, significantly (p < 0.05) among: fifth graders (+ 17.5%), extended school time schedulers (+18.1%) and females (+18.9%). The results, however, show poor global oral health knowledge, being total percentage of correct answers below 60%.

Conclusions: The results stress the importance of the school environment as access to health promotion for all socio-economic classes. The multimedia educational approach has proved a valuable and updated tool to attract the attention of digital native children.

Keywords: health promoting school; oral health; primary school.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Results of the quiz by a cartoon.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Improving trend of correct answers from T0 to T1 among fifth graders.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Improving trend of correct answers from T0 to T1 among extended school time schedulers.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Improving trend of correct answers from T0 to T1 among females.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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