College of Dentistry, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Community Dentistry & Gerodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, Thammasat University, Pathum Thani, Thailand.
College of Dentistry, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2024 Feb;117:105277. doi: 10.1016/j.archger.2023.105277. Epub 2023 Nov 12.
BACKGROUND & PURPOSE: Oral health education helps older adults optimize their oral health. However, traditional lecture-based oral health education has limitations, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Mobile augmented reality (MAR) has emerged as an alternative educational method. This study compared the effectiveness of MAR-integrated oral health education with that of lecture-based education and no education.
This parallel, randomized controlled, open-label trial enrolled 75 older adults from six activity centers. The participants were randomly assigned, by a random number table technique, to the lecture-based, MAR, or control group. Data on oral healthcare-related knowledge, self-efficacy, and oral health status were collected through questionnaires and oral examinations at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and at a 2-week follow-up. The MAR system's usability was assessed. Statistical analyses, comprising descriptive statistics and inferential tests, were performed.
Data from 61 participants were analyzed, 22 in the lecture-based group, 20 in the MAR group, and 19 in the control group. Both lectures and MAR education significantly improved oral health status. However, changes in knowledge and self-efficacy scores were significantly different only for the MAR versus control group (p = .002 and .001, respectively). The MAR group demonstrated better knowledge and self-efficacy retention than did the lecture-based group, without significant difference. Usability assessment revealed potential for improvement in the MAR system.
MAR-integrated oral health education enhanced the knowledge, self-efficacy, and oral health status of community-dwelling older adults. However, addressing technology adoption and usability challenges is vital. Longer-term evaluations and broader geographical studies are recommended.
口腔健康教育有助于老年人优化口腔健康。然而，传统的基于讲座的口腔健康教育存在局限性，在 COVID-19 大流行期间情况更为严重。移动增强现实（MAR）已成为一种替代教育方法。本研究比较了 MAR 整合口腔健康教育与基于讲座的教育和无教育的效果。
这项平行、随机对照、开放标签试验纳入了来自六个活动中心的 75 名老年人。参与者通过随机数字表技术随机分配到基于讲座、MAR 或对照组。在基线、干预后立即和 2 周随访时通过问卷和口腔检查收集与口腔保健相关的知识、自我效能和口腔健康状况的数据。评估 MAR 系统的可用性。进行了描述性统计和推断性测试的统计分析。
对 61 名参与者的数据进行了分析，其中基于讲座组 22 名，MAR 组 20 名，对照组 19 名。讲座和 MAR 教育均显著改善了口腔健康状况。然而，只有 MAR 与对照组相比，知识和自我效能得分的变化具有统计学意义（p=0.002 和.001）。MAR 组的知识和自我效能保持效果优于基于讲座组，但无统计学差异。可用性评估显示 MAR 系统具有改进的潜力。
MAR 整合口腔健康教育增强了社区居住的老年人的知识、自我效能和口腔健康状况。然而，解决技术采用和可用性挑战至关重要。建议进行更长期的评估和更广泛的地理研究。
