Department of Public Health Dentistry, Ragas Dental College and Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
Indian J Dent Res. 2021 Oct-Dec;32(4):467-471. doi: 10.4103/ijdr.ijdr_1128_20.
Communication plays a vital role in breaking down barriers between the patient and dental health professional, thereby strengthening treatment alliance. The proliferation of modes, speed of communication and reflexivity of knowledge have implications for health promotion.
To evaluate the effect of social media-based oral health promotion programme in improving oral health among 18-20-year-old college students in Chennai city.
The interventional study consisted of college students between 18-20 years in Chennai city. A total of 140 participants with an allocation ratio of 1:1 were randomly assigned to the intervention and control group. Oral health education was provided to all the students using various oral health education aids. Status of participants for WhatsApp addiction, oral health Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) and oral health status (Simplified Oral Hygiene Index [OHI-S] and Modified Gingival Index [MGI]) were assessed. The intervention was given to the interventional group through WhatsApp using pictures, videos and text messages at first, second and third months. Follow up examinations were carried out for both the groups at the first, third and sixth month. Independent sample t-test to compare the mean values and Chi-Square to compare proportions between groups were used.
Statistically significant difference was seen in OHI-S [Mean- 2.52 (T0) to 0.77 (T3) P 0.001] and MGI [Mean- 1.58 (T0) to 0.58 (T3) P 0.001] scores among the intervention group. The percentage change in the KAP score from baseline to sixth month was comparatively higher among the intervention group.
The intervention given through the WhatsApp application significantly improved the oral health status and KAP among its users.
沟通在打破患者与口腔健康专业人员之间的障碍方面起着至关重要的作用，从而加强了治疗联盟。沟通方式、速度和知识的反思性的扩散对健康促进有影响。
评估基于社交媒体的口腔健康促进计划在改善钦奈市 18-20 岁大学生口腔健康方面的效果。
这项干预研究包括钦奈市 18-20 岁的大学生。共有 140 名参与者，按 1:1 的比例随机分配到干预组和对照组。对所有学生都使用各种口腔健康教育辅助工具进行口腔健康教育。评估参与者的 WhatsApp 成瘾状态、口腔健康知识、态度和实践（KAP）以及口腔健康状况（简化口腔卫生指数 [OHI-S] 和改良牙龈指数 [MGI]）。通过 WhatsApp 向干预组提供干预措施，首先、第二和第三个月使用图片、视频和文字信息。对两组都进行了第一个、第三个和第六个月的随访检查。使用独立样本 t 检验比较平均值，使用卡方检验比较组间比例。
干预组的 OHI-S [均值-2.52（T0）至 0.77（T3）P 0.001]和 MGI [均值-1.58（T0）至 0.58（T3）P 0.001]评分有统计学显著差异。从基线到第六个月，干预组的 KAP 评分百分比变化相对较高。
通过 WhatsApp 应用程序进行的干预显著改善了使用者的口腔健康状况和 KAP。
