Santhosh Varkey Nadakkavukaran, Ankola Anil V, Sankeshwari Roopali M, Hampiholi Vinuta, Shankkari Siva, Varghese Anu Sara, Chavan Prajakta J
Department of Public Health Dentistry, KLE VK Institute of Dental Sciences, KLE Academy of Higher Education and Research (KLE University), Belagavi, Karnataka, India.
Department of Periodontology, KLE V.K Institute of Dental Sciences, KLE Academy of Higher Education and Research (KLE University), Belagavi, Karnataka, India.
Spec Care Dentist. 2025 Jan-Feb;45(1):e13069. doi: 10.1111/scd.13069. Epub 2024 Oct 4.
Oral health education (OHE) for hearing and speech-impaired (HSI) adolescents relies heavily on sign language. However, it is not effective in conveying oral health concepts due to communication barriers, resulting in suboptimal oral health outcomes. This study aims to evaluate the impact of the jigsaw puzzle assisted visual reinforcement (JPVR) technique on toothbrushing knowledge, practices, and clinical parameters among HSI adolescents.
The study was carried out as a single-blind randomized controlled trial in a public school in Belagavi, India for a period of three months. The study included 95 participants who were randomly allocated into two groups. One group received sign language with JPVR technique, and the other group received only sign language. A self-designed 15-item closed-ended questionnaire (Cronbach's alpha value of 0.88; content validity ratio = 0.85) was developed to assess the knowledge, and practices at baseline and 3 months. Plaque and gingival indices were also recorded.
At the end of 3 months, the knowledge gained and practices improved in JPVR group were significantly higher compared to sign language group (p = .001). The mean plaque score was significantly lower in JPVR group than that in the sign language group (p = .001); however, gingival index did not show any statistically significant difference at 3 months.
The current study demonstrated that OHE utilizing JPVR technique led to significant improvements in toothbrushing knowledge, practices, and plaque scores compared to that of conventional sign language. This promising strategy has the potential to be cost-effective and does not incorporate specialized sign language training for health professionals.
针对听力和言语障碍（HSI）青少年的口腔健康教育（OHE）严重依赖手语。然而，由于沟通障碍，它在传达口腔健康概念方面并不有效，导致口腔健康结果不理想。本研究旨在评估拼图辅助视觉强化（JPVR）技术对HSI青少年刷牙知识、实践和临床参数的影响。
该研究在印度贝拉加维的一所公立学校进行，为期三个月，是一项单盲随机对照试验。该研究包括95名参与者，他们被随机分为两组。一组接受手语与JPVR技术，另一组仅接受手语。开发了一份自行设计的15项封闭式问卷（克朗巴赫α值为0.88；内容效度比 = 0.85），以评估基线和3个月时的知识和实践情况。还记录了菌斑和牙龈指数。
在3个月末，JPVR组获得的知识和改善的实践情况明显高于手语组（p = 0.001）。JPVR组的平均菌斑评分明显低于手语组（p = 0.001）；然而，在3个月时牙龈指数没有显示出任何统计学上的显著差异。
当前研究表明，与传统手语相比，采用JPVR技术的OHE在刷牙知识、实践和菌斑评分方面有显著改善。这种有前景的策略有可能具有成本效益，并且不需要为卫生专业人员进行专门的手语培训。
