Implementation of Oral Health Educational Program on Orphan Children

Effectiveness of Oral Health Educational Program on the Knowledge and Practice of Institutionalized Orphan Children in Alexandria, Egypt

Oral diseases are most prevalent among children. Orphans children are one of the most vulnerable groups to diseases especially oral diseases.

Knowledge toward oral cavity and oral hygiene measures is low among this group, leading to poor practice of oral hygiene measures, which outcomes to oral diseases. Implementation of health education program orphan children who are living in orphanages is important. the aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of health education program on the knowledge and practice of orphan children. 80 children were enrolled in this study from different orphanages in Alexandria, Egypt. Knowledge and practice were evaluated before and after intervention using predesigned questionnaire, and oral hygiene was evaluated using simplified oral hygiene index

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Dental Caries; Knowledge; Practice
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Health education

Detailed Description

Background: Dental caries is a lifetime disease, with highest priority risk group between 11-14 years of age group. Environmental factors such as culture, socioeconomic status, life style and dietary pattern can have a greater impact on caries-resistance or development. It has been well-documented in dentistry and other health areas that correct health information or knowledge alone does not necessarily lead to desirable health behaviors. However knowledge gained may serve as a tool to empower population groups with accurate information about health and health care technologies, enabling them to take action to protect their health. According to global review of oral health, despite great improvements in the oral health of populations in several countries, the oral problem persists. This is particularly among underprivileged groups, in both developed and developing countries. One of the known high-risk groups is orphans. An orphan is defined as a child under 18 years, who has lost his father, mother, or both In developing countries like Egypt, there is little access to oral healthcare due to a lack of knowledge, insufficient financial resources, and inadequate dental manpower in the national healthcare system Aim of the study: is to evaluate the effectiveness of oral health education programs on knowledge and practice of participated orphan children Materials and Methods: A specially designed questionnaire was used to assess the dental problems and existing oral hygiene maintenance practice among children between 6 - 12 years of age (n=80) in orphanages. DMFT [Decayed Missing Filled Teeth index (for permanent teeth)] and dft [ decayed filled teeth index ( for primary teeth) ], pre- and post-interventional intra-oral examinations was carried out to check their oral hygiene status which included and OHIS (Simplified Oral Hygiene Index).

Information regarding tooth cleaning habits was obtained by a questionnaire to the children themselves, before, immediately and after 6 months.

Statistical analysis Collected data will be analyzed using SPSS software

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 80
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Egypt
  • Alexandria, Egypt, 536733
    • Pharos University in Alexandria

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Orphan children aged between 6-12 years old

Exclusion Criteria:

• children suffering from any systemic diseases acute or chronic, congenital abnormalities, psychological or behavioral problems, or receiving medications

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: children who are living in orphanages; Orphan children aged 6-12	Other: Health education; Oral health education program designed for orphans children

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Knowledge will be assessed using predesigned questionnaire	The questionnaire consisted of 8 questions to collect data about the children knowledge about teeth number in each dentition, the parts of teeth and its function, causes of oral disease, and how to prevent it.	Knowledge was measured immediately and after 6 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Practice will be assessed using predesigned questionnaire	practices were measured using a predesigned questionnaire, consisting of 6 questions to collected data about the children's practices regarding tooth brushing, flossing and eating habits.	Practice was evaluated after 6 months
oral hygiene	Oral hygiene was evaluated using the simplified oral hygiene index - scores were ranged from 0-6 and 6 is the poorest oral hygiene score	oral hygiene was evaluated after 6 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Pharos University in Alexandria
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Inas M Karawia, Pharos University in Alexandria

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): September 1, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): March 1, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): March 30, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 9, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 22, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): May 24, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 24, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 22, 2024
• Last Verified: May 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Oral health education; knowledge; oral hygiene; practice
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Stomatognathic Diseases; Tooth Demineralization; Tooth Diseases; Dental Caries
• Other Study ID Numbers: UREAC-04-3-219

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No