Difference between Motivational Counseling versus Traditional Dental Education of Oral Health Knowledge among the Public-School Children of Rawalpindi

Abstract

Background: Among many other health issues around the globe oral disease is one of the emerging health problems in the domain of noncommunicable diseases. The objective of the study was to compare the difference between motivational counseling (MC) and traditional dental education (TDE).

Methods: Intervention study in which two groups were made, each from a different randomly selected Federal Government School. One school for MC technique and the other for TDE .The sample size was 250 in which 147 were for MC and 103 for the TDE. A pre-test baseline was taken with the help of a pre structured questionnaire to identify the knowledge, attitude and practices of mid-level standard students. Later on post-test was conducted in both the groups after 15 days interval, in which a refreshing session on the seventh day was given to the intervention group only.

Results: The MC group showed increase in knowledge about oral hygiene, gums, tooth cleaning material and dental care practices. TDE group showed significant increase only in knowledge about oral hygiene.

Conclusion: Schools provide the most suitable platform for promoting oral health. So, it is necessary to have an effective method of education for developing self-driven attitude through MC.