Comparison of Effectiveness of Mobile App versus Conventional Educational Lectures on Oral Hygiene Knowledge and Behavior of High School Students in Saudi Arabia

Figures & data

Table 1 Demographic Characteristics and Oral Health Attitudes of Participants

	[ALL] N=271	App N=130	Lecture N=141	p*
Gender				0.072
Female	142 (52.4%)	76 (58.5%)	66 (46.8%)
Male	129 (47.6%)	54 (41.5%)	75 (53.2%)
Age	16.6 (0.96)	16.5 (0.85)	16.7 (1.05)	0.328
Have you ever attended a lecture on dental health?				0.291
No	110 (40.6%)	48 (36.9%)	62 (44.0%)
Yes	161 (59.4%)	82 (63.1%)	79 (56.0%)
Are you interested in attending an event related to oral health?				0.694
No	142 (52.4%)	66 (50.8%)	76 (53.9%)
Yes	129 (47.6%)	64 (49.2%)	65 (46.1%)
Do you want to know the benefits of good oral hygiene?				0.433
No	63 (23.2%)	27 (20.8%)	36 (25.5%)
Yes	208 (76.8%)	103 (79.2%)	105 (74.5%)

Note: *Statistical analysis was performed using Chi-square test of independence.

Figure 1 Oral health knowledge, attitude and behaviors among participants.

Table 2 Responses to Questions Added in the Follow-Up Survey

	[ALL] N=234	App N=114	Lecture N=120	p*
Have you noticed any changes in teeth and gums after using the app/lecture?				0.539
No	22 (9.40%)	10 (8.77%)	12 (10.0%)
To some extent	76 (32.5%)	41 (36.0%)	35 (29.2%)
Yes	136 (58.1%)	63 (55.3%)	73 (60.8%)
Did you like the way of teaching in the app/lecture?				0.863
No	17 (7.26%)	8 (7.02%)	9 (7.50%)
To some extent	32 (13.7%)	17 (14.9%)	15 (12.5%)
Yes	185 (79.1%)	89 (78.1%)	96 (80.0%)
Have you encountered any difficulty in using the app/lecture?				0.037*
No	203 (86.8%)	93 (81.6%)	110 (91.7%)
Yes	31 (13.2%)	21 (18.4%)	10 (8.33%)
Did the app/lecture help you schedule a dentist’s appointment?				0.449
No	36 (15.4%)	21 (18.4%)	15 (12.5%)
To some extent	80 (34.2%)	37 (32.5%)	43 (35.8%)
Yes	118 (50.4%)	56 (49.1%)	62 (51.7%)

Note: *Statistical analysis was performed using Chi-square test of independence.

Figure 2 Perceived benefits from the two functions in the Brush DJ app.

Table 3 Change in Knowledge and Attitudes Towards Oral Health Within the Groups

	Mobile Application (n = 114)			Educational Lecture (n = 120)
	Before	After	p	Before	After	p
How often do you brush your teeth?
I rarely brush.	8 (7.02%)	3 (2.6%)	0.87	17 (14.2%)	5 (4.17%)	<0.001*
Once daily irregularly	13 (11.4%)	5 (4.4%)		13 (10.8%)	13 (10.8%)
Once daily regularly	15 (13.2%)	30 (26.3%)		27 (22.5%)	12 (10.0%)
Twice daily regularly (A)	78 (68.4%)	76 (66.7%)		63 (52.5%)	90 (75.0%)
How often do you change your toothbrush?
Every 3 months (A)	53 (46.5%)	78 (68.4%)	<0.001*	40 (33.3%)	54 (45.0%)	0.08
Every 6 months	31 (27.2%)	22 (19.3%)		27 (22.5%)	40 (33.3%)
After 1 year	8 (7.02%)	8 (7.02%)		10 (8.33%)	2 (1.67%)
Till bristles fray	22 (19.3%)	6 (5.2%)		43 (35.8%)	24 (20.0%)
Do you think you know how to brush your teeth properly?
No	5 (4.4%)	2 (1.75%)	<0.001*	8 (6.67%)	2 (1.67%)	0.005*
To some extent	62 (54.4%)	31 (27.2%)		67 (55.8%)	50 (41.7%)
Yes (A)	47 (41.2%)	81 (71.1%)		45 (37.5%)	68 (56.7%)
In your opinion, what tooth brushing technique would be best?
Horizontal movement	15 (13.2%)	14 (12.3%)	0.035*	24 (20.0%)	12 (10.0%)	<0.001*
Vertical movement	23 (20.2%)	11 (9.6%)		26 (21.7%)	13 (10.8%)
Circular movement (A)	69 (60.5%)	83 (72.8%)		53 (44.2%)	87 (72.5%)
I do not know	7 (6.14%)	6 (5.26%)		17 (14.2%)	8 (6.67%)
What type of toothpaste do you use?
I do not know	61 (53.5%)	48 (42.1%)	0.08	85 (70.8%)	21 (17.5%)	<0.001*
Toothpaste with fluoride (A)	49 (43.0%)	62 (54.4%)		32 (26.7%)	96 (80.0%)
Toothpaste without fluoride	4 (3.51%)	4 (3.51%)		3 (2.50%)	3 (2.50%)
Do you floss your teeth?
No	58 (50.9%)	37 (32.5%)	0.04*	74 (61.7%)	26 (21.7%)	<0.001*
Sometimes	37 (32.5%)	45 (39.5%)		31 (25.8%)	52 (43.3%)
Yes (A)	19 (16.7%)	32 (28.1%)		15 (12.5%)	42 (35.0%)
How often do you use mouthwash?
Only when prescribed by the doctor	10 (8.7%)	39 (34.2%)	<0.001*	7 (5.8%)	49 (40.8%)	0.014*
I do not use mouthwash	57 (50.0%)	26 (22.8%)		74 (61.7%)	21 (17.5%)
Once per day every 2 weeks (A)	1 (0.88%)	18 (15.8%)		8 (6.6%)	22 (18.3%)
Once a week	10 (8.7%)	31 (27.2%)		16 (13.3%)	28 (23.3%)
Once a day	36 (31.6%)	0 (0.00%)		15 (12.5%)	0 (0.00%)
How often do you visit the dentist?
On demand	83 (72.8%)	38 (33.3%)	<0.001*	96 (80.8%)	26 (21.7%)	<0.001*
Once a year	3 (2.6%)	4 (3.5%)		5 (4.1%)	19 (15.8%)
Every 6 months (A)	9 (7.9%)	35 (30.7%)		5 (4.1%)	61 (50.8%)
Every 3 months	19 (16.7%)	37 (32.5%)		13 (10.8%)	14 (11.7%)

Notes: Statistical analysis was performed using the McNemar’s test. (A) The correct answer. *P ≤ 0.05.