EFFECT OF GAME BASED EDUCATION IN EXTENSION OF ORAL HEALTH KNOWLEDGE AMONG 10 -12 YEAR OLD SCHOOL CHILDREN - AN INTERVENTIONAL STUDY

Dental Jumanji is a self-designed game where the participants have to roll dice demonstrate the task assigned to  them on the game board. The aim and objective of the study was to assess and evaluate the additional effect of the Dental Jumanji  game along with conventional lectures in the improvement of oral health knowledge among 10–12 years old school children.   This was a school setting and experimental study. A sample of 120 school participants aged 10 to 12 years were  randomly assigned to two groups. A self -designed assessment form was used, and assessment was done at baseline, after  conventional lecture alone and with Dental Jumanji and after three months follow-up in both groups. The missing data during  follow-up was managed using the multiple imputation model. Comparison between groups was analyzed using the MannWhitney U test and within group comparison was done using Friedman’s test followed by post-hoc Mann-Whitney U test.   The comparison between groups showed statistical significant difference between the Lecture and Lecture Game group  in post-test and 3-month follow-up with mean values of 7.4±2.5 and 8.8±1.8 post test, 6.9±2.3 and 8.7±1.8 at 3-month follow up respectively. Intragroup comparison shows a significant increase in the mean values from baseline to post-test, and a slight decrease in the 3-month follow-up in both groups. Post hoc comparison in both groups showed that in each group the baseline,  was significantly different from the post-test and 3-month follow-up (P<0.05)., but the difference between the post-test and  follow-up was not significant.   Oral health knowledge increased using the Dental Jumanji game in combination with conventional lecture. Dental  Jumanji can be used as a positive reinforcement tool during oral health education.