TY - JOUR A1 - Rajesh, G A1 - Prasad, K.V.V. A1 - Mohanty, Vikranth A1 - Javali, S T1 - Effect of various methods of oral health education on oral health knowledge and oral health status of high school children in Gadag town - A randomized control trial Y1 - 2008/1/1 JF - Journal of Indian Association of Public Health Dentistry JO - J Indian Assoc Public Health Dent SP - 22 EP - 29 VL - 6 IS - 11 UR - https://journals.lww.com/aphd/pages/default.aspx/article.asp?issn=2319-5932;year=2008;volume=6;issue=11;spage=22;epage=29;aulast=Rajesh N2 - Introduction: Due to dearth of resources and from dental public health point of view, one has to identify more effective methods of oral health education. Objective: To assess effect of various methods of oral health education on oral health knowledge and oral health status of high school children in Gadag town. Methodology: 880 study subjects aged 13-15 yrs from 6 schools were randomly allocated to 6 groups, which were: health talk, health talk with charts and models, computer method, pamphlets, exhibition and control groups respectively. Their oral health knowledge was assessed by questionnaire and oral health status was assessed by plaque index (Silness and Loe) and gingival index (Loe and Silness) before and after oral health education. Results: Baseline mean oral health knowledge scores in groups I to VI were 7.54, 7.46, 7.58, 7.57,7.47 & 7.44 respectively; baseline mean plaque index scores in groups I to VI were 1.08, 1.02, 1.10, 1.08, 1.09 & 1.07 respectively and baseline mean gingival index scores in groups I to VI were 0.94, 0.87, 0.90, 0.95, 0.96 & 0.89 respectively. Mean oral health knowledge scores increased in groups I to VI by 2.87, 3.37, 4.34, 1.83, 1.88 and 0.06 respectively. Mean change in plaque index scores in groups I to VI were 0.10, -0.13, -0.20, 0.04, 0.14 & 0.22 respectively; and mean change in gingival index scores in groups I to VI 0.12, -0.11, -0.16, 0.05, 0.11 & 0.27 respectively. Conclusions: Computer method was most effective method in improving oral health knowledge; only computer method and charts-models improved their plaque and gingival status. ER -