Effect of game based education in extension of oral health knowledge among 10–12-year-old school children – an interventional study

Abstract

Background: Dental Jumanji is a self-designed game where the participants have to roll dice demonstrate the task assigned to them on the game board. The aim and objective of the study was to assess and evaluate the additional effect of the Dental Jumanji game along with conventional lectures in the improvement of oral health knowledge among 10–12 years old school children. Methods: This was a school setting and experimental study. A sample of 120 school participants aged 10 to 12 years were randomly assigned to two groups. A self -designed assessment form was used, and assessment was done at baseline, after conventional lecture alone and with Dental Jumanji and after three months follow-up in both groups. The missing data during follow-up was managed using the multiple imputation model. Comparison between groups was analyzed using the MannWhitney U test and within group comparison was done using Friedman’s test followed by post-hoc Mann-Whitney U test. Results: The comparison between groups showed statistical significant difference between the Lecture and Lecture+Game group in post-test and 3-month follow-up with mean values of 7.4±2.5 and 8.8±1.8 post test, 6.9±2.3 and 8.7±1.8 at 3-month followup respectively. Intragroup comparison shows a significant increase in the mean values from baseline to post-test, and a slight decrease in the 3-month follow-up in both groups. Post hoc comparison in both groups showed that in each group the baseline, was significantly different from the post-test and 3-month follow-up (P<0.05)., but the difference between the post-test and follow-up was not significant. Conclusion: Oral health knowledge increased using the Dental Jumanji game in combination with conventional lecture. Dental Jumanji can be used as a positive reinforcement tool during oral health education.