Effectiveness of Online vs. In-Person Periodontal Health Workshops for Public Awareness

Arti Dixit; P Dhanalakshmi; Pallavi Tripathi Rameshchandra; Karina S Chachlani; Bhavna Jha Kukreja; Ananya; Amit Kumar; Bhumika Kamal Badiyani

doi:10.4103/jpbs.jpbs_1006_23

Effectiveness of Online vs. In-Person Periodontal Health Workshops for Public Awareness

J Pharm Bioallied Sci. 2024 Feb;16(Suppl 1):S777-S779. doi: 10.4103/jpbs.jpbs_1006_23. Epub 2024 Feb 29.

Authors

Arti Dixit¹, P Dhanalakshmi², Pallavi Tripathi Rameshchandra³, Karina S Chachlani⁴, Bhavna Jha Kukreja⁵, Ananya⁶, Amit Kumar⁷, Bhumika Kamal Badiyani⁷

Affiliations

¹ Associate Professor, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Vaidik Dental College and Research Centre, Daman (U.T.), India.
² Assistant Professor, Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Government Dental College and Hospital, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
³ Reader, Department of Public Health Dentistry, MGV's KBH Dental College and Hospital, Nashik, Maharashtra, India.
⁴ Assistant Professor, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Pacific Dental College and Research Center, Udaipur, India.
⁵ Assistant Professor of Periodontology, Department of Preventive Dental sciences, College of dentistry, Gulf medical university, Ajman, UAE.
⁶ Intern, Kalinga Institute of Dental Sciences, KIIT Deemed to be University, Patia, Bhubaneswar, India.
⁷ Associate Professor, Clinical Practitioner, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Mumbai, India.

Abstract

Background: Periodontal health is a critical aspect of overall oral health, yet public awareness and education on this topic remain limited. With the increasing prevalence of online health education platforms, it is essential to evaluate the effectiveness of online periodontal health workshops compared with traditional in-person workshops on improving public awareness.

Materials and methods: Study Design: This randomized controlled trial (RCT) aimed to assess the impact of online and in-person periodontal health workshops on public awareness. Participants (N = 500) were randomly assigned to one of two groups: the online workshop group or the in-person workshop group. Online Workshop: Participants in this group accessed an interactive online periodontal health workshop, consisting of video presentations, animations, and quizzes. The workshop covered topics, such as gum disease prevention, oral hygiene, and the importance of regular dental checkups. In-Person Workshop: Participants in this group attended a traditional in-person periodontal health workshop conducted by dental professionals. The content and duration of this workshop mirrored the online version. Pre- and Postworkshop Assessments: Both groups completed pre-workshop and postworkshop assessments, including a knowledge questionnaire and a self-assessment of oral health habits. Arbitrary scores were assigned to quantify knowledge gain (0-100%).

Results: Participants in the online workshop group showed a mean knowledge gain of 30% (standard deviation (SD) = 5.2), while those in the in-person workshop group exhibited a mean knowledge gain of 35% (SD = 4.7). The self-assessment of oral health habits indicated an improvement in both groups, with 60% of participants reporting better oral hygiene practices.

Conclusion: Both online and in-person periodontal health workshops demonstrated effectiveness in improving public awareness and promoting better oral health habits. Combining both modalities could be an effective strategy for comprehensive public education on periodontal health.

Keywords: Dental education; in-person workshops; online education; oral hygiene; periodontal health; public awareness.