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.