IADR Abstract Archives
Impacts of App and WeChat on Oral Health Promotion among University Students
Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of WeChat and App in oral health promotion among university students.
Methods: Ethical approval was obtained from Kunming Medical University. Year 1 and Year 2 university students in Kunming were recruited and randomly allocated to three groups. Group 1 (OHE+App) – One oral health talk was provided, and a piece of Apps oral health promotion information was sent to them every month. Group 2 (OHE+WeChat) – One oral health talk was conducted, and a piece of WeChat oral health promotion information was sent to them per month. Group 3 (OHE) – One oral health talk was conducted for the control group. Five well-trained dental students using CPI probes under artificial light examined the oral health statuses of the participants. DMFT and gingival bleeding scores were used to assess the dental and periodontal status respectively. A self-completed questionnaire was sent to the students, and they were asked about their backgrounds, oral health–related behaviors, and oral health knowledge.
Results: A total of 724 students from five universities participated in the study, with 240 students in each group. After three months, the mean DMFT score of Group 2 was significantly lower than those of Groups 1 and 3 (p<0.01). No significant difference was found among the three groups in the gingival bleeding scores. Groups 2 and 3 had similar oral health–related behavior scores, which were higher than that of Group 1 (p<0.01). In addition, Group 2 participants had more oral health knowledge compared with the other groups (p=0.044).
Conclusions: The usage of WeChat can enhance the effectiveness of oral health education among university students.
Methods: Ethical approval was obtained from Kunming Medical University. Year 1 and Year 2 university students in Kunming were recruited and randomly allocated to three groups. Group 1 (OHE+App) – One oral health talk was provided, and a piece of Apps oral health promotion information was sent to them every month. Group 2 (OHE+WeChat) – One oral health talk was conducted, and a piece of WeChat oral health promotion information was sent to them per month. Group 3 (OHE) – One oral health talk was conducted for the control group. Five well-trained dental students using CPI probes under artificial light examined the oral health statuses of the participants. DMFT and gingival bleeding scores were used to assess the dental and periodontal status respectively. A self-completed questionnaire was sent to the students, and they were asked about their backgrounds, oral health–related behaviors, and oral health knowledge.
Results: A total of 724 students from five universities participated in the study, with 240 students in each group. After three months, the mean DMFT score of Group 2 was significantly lower than those of Groups 1 and 3 (p<0.01). No significant difference was found among the three groups in the gingival bleeding scores. Groups 2 and 3 had similar oral health–related behavior scores, which were higher than that of Group 1 (p<0.01). In addition, Group 2 participants had more oral health knowledge compared with the other groups (p=0.044).
Conclusions: The usage of WeChat can enhance the effectiveness of oral health education among university students.