IADR Abstract Archives
Impact of Dental Caries on Academic Performance of Schoolchildren
Objectives: There is a lack of empirical evidence explaining the pathway model of any specific oral health condition leading to poor academic performance. Objective of this research was to test the hypothesis that dental caries operates through toothache to disrupt learning activities and results in poor academic performance
Methods: A cross-sectional (CS) study was carried out on a sample of schoolchildren aged 12-14 years in Jazan, Saudi Arabia (sample size=700). The outcome measures were a pass/fail GPA grade and teacher perception of the child’s academic performance. The exposure parameters comprised the common oral health conditions in children, which were assessed by clinical examinations and a self-perceived questionnaire. The relationships between poor oral health-impacted sleep and study activities, and academic performance were also assessed. The univariate, bivariate, and multiple regressions were carried out using the SPSS software (version 24.0) and mediation analysis was performed using the PROCESS add-on software
Results: Findings showed that dental caries, gingivitis, plaque deposits, toothache, tooth discoloration, and oral health impacts related to sleeping and studying were significantly associated with academic performance (p<0.001). Dental caries was identified as the most likely oral health condition that can be linked to poor academic performance (Adjusted OR=3.09; SE=0.16). Subsequently, the pathway analysis confirms the indirect effect of caries on academic performance through its influence on pain, and sleep (Bootstrap 95%CI:1.37, 12.81) and study (Bootstrap 95%CI: 0.10, 0.82) activities. The investigation of a causal relationship using the Bradford Hill criteria further supported the pathway models
Conclusions: Dental caries is identified as the best predictor of poor academic performance among the examined OH conditions, and decay severity (DT), the best measure. There is a plausible causal relationship between dental caries and academic performance based on the pathway analysis and application of the Bradford Hill criteria
Methods: A cross-sectional (CS) study was carried out on a sample of schoolchildren aged 12-14 years in Jazan, Saudi Arabia (sample size=700). The outcome measures were a pass/fail GPA grade and teacher perception of the child’s academic performance. The exposure parameters comprised the common oral health conditions in children, which were assessed by clinical examinations and a self-perceived questionnaire. The relationships between poor oral health-impacted sleep and study activities, and academic performance were also assessed. The univariate, bivariate, and multiple regressions were carried out using the SPSS software (version 24.0) and mediation analysis was performed using the PROCESS add-on software
Results: Findings showed that dental caries, gingivitis, plaque deposits, toothache, tooth discoloration, and oral health impacts related to sleeping and studying were significantly associated with academic performance (p<0.001). Dental caries was identified as the most likely oral health condition that can be linked to poor academic performance (Adjusted OR=3.09; SE=0.16). Subsequently, the pathway analysis confirms the indirect effect of caries on academic performance through its influence on pain, and sleep (Bootstrap 95%CI:1.37, 12.81) and study (Bootstrap 95%CI: 0.10, 0.82) activities. The investigation of a causal relationship using the Bradford Hill criteria further supported the pathway models
Conclusions: Dental caries is identified as the best predictor of poor academic performance among the examined OH conditions, and decay severity (DT), the best measure. There is a plausible causal relationship between dental caries and academic performance based on the pathway analysis and application of the Bradford Hill criteria
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