A multimedia oral health promoting project in primary schools in central Italy

Aim. The purpose of the study Project was to test the effectiveness of a multimedia game designed in order to attract the attention of primary school children to oral health basic concepts and use the instrument to assess students’ knowledge.Materials and methods. An originally designed multimedia game on oral health was administered in the computer class rooms, before (T0) and after (T1) an educational stage, to third (8-9 years) and fifth graders (10-11 years) of primary schools in urban and rural areas of two provinces of medium-small cities in Center Italy (Terni and Latina).Considered variables were: age, gender, school time schedule (only antemeridian, extended schedule). The statistical test used was the nonparametric Wilcox on signed-rank test.Results. Response rate was 90.6% (due to absence on the due date). 1,300 students were involved.Overall, the average of the correct answers was 40.7% before oral health lessons and 59.2% after. An improving trend of correct answers wa