A Pre-Experimental Evaluation of a Structured Teaching Program on Dental Caries Prevention Knowledge among School Students

Abstract

Background: Dental caries is a highly prevalent oral health problem among school-aged children and is associated with poor
oral hygiene, inadequate awareness, and unhealthy dietary practices. The present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a
structured teaching program on knowledge regarding dental caries and its prevention among primary school students in Anand District, Gujarat.

Materials and Methods: A pre-experimental one-group pre-test post-test design was adopted for this study. Using a convenient
sampling technique, 60 primary school students studying in the 6th and 7th standards were selected. Baseline data were gathered
using a validated structured knowledge questionnaire consisting of demographic variables and 26 multiple-choice questions
(r = 0.75). A 30-min structured teaching program using audiovisual aids was administered, followed by a post-test administered 7 days
later. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The paired t-test was used to compare the pre-test and post-test
knowledge scores.

Results: The overall knowledge level of the participants improved considerably from 52.3% in the pre-test to 81.2% in the post-test.
The mean pre-test knowledge score was 30.0 ± 9.3, which increas ed to 48.0 ± 4.9 in the post-test. The obtained P < 0.001 which is less
than the standard significance level of 0.05, showing that the improvement was statistically significant. The difference between the mean pre-test and post-test scores was statistically significant according to the paired t-test, P < 0.05, demonstrating the effectiveness of the structured teaching program.

Conclusion: The structured teaching program significantly improved knowledge regarding dental caries prevention among primary school children. School-based oral health education interventions may contribute to the promotion of healthy oral hygiene practices and preventive behaviors among students.