Effects of an Educational Book on Paediatric Oral Health knowledge in a sample of Italian women

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ABSTRACT

Aim

Parents and caregivers, particularly in Italy, often have limited knowledge about their children’s oral health. The primary objective of the study is to evaluate the educational effectiveness of a book on nutrition and prevention of oral diseases entitled “Oral health of mother and child in the first 1000 days of life”.

Material and methods

The sample for this study was composed of 103 adult Italian women who were potential caregivers of one or more children (e.g., mothers, grandmothers, babysitters, and educators). The enrolled women completed a preliminary online survey which included questions about their
socio-demographic characteristics and their knowledge on oral health in the first 1000 days of life of newborns (30 questions). Following the survey, they received the educational book. After reading it, the participants completed a second online survey with the same 30 questions, to measure any improvement in their knowledge.

Results

Median score was 14 out of 30 (interquartile range, IR, 10) before the intervention, and 27 after the intervention (IR 5). The median difference score before and after the intervention resulted to be significantly higher among younger compared to older women (p=0.010), in those without children compared to mothers (p=0.005), in those without a university degree compared to graduates (p<0.001), and in those with a socioeconomic status below average (p=0.001).

Conclusion

It appears that our educational book about nutrition and prevention of oral diseases was effective in enhancing knowledge among the participants in our study. These findings suggest that this educational resource has the potential to be a valuable tool in preventing oral diseases in paediatric populations. However, further confirmation of these results should be obtained through randomised controlled trials.

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