The results of gamication learning methods in the development of oral health literacy among primary school children in Phrae Province

Abstract

This research is a quasi-experimental study using a Two Group Pretest-Posttest Design. The objective of this study was to assess the results of gamification learning methods in the development of oral health literacy among primary school children in Phrae Province. The sample group consists of 360 5th-grade students, divided into two groups. The control group received regular oral health education, while the experimental group received knowledge through a gamification learning process involving active learning. Data was collected using the Test of Functional Health Literacy in Dentistry for Primary School Children (P-TOFHLiD) before and after the experiment. Statistical analyses, including percentages, means, standard deviations, paired t-tests, and independent t-tests, were conducted. Comparing the mean total oral health literacy scores between the experimental group and the control group the results showed that before the experiment, there was no significant difference in the mean scores between the two groups. However, after the experiment, there was a statistically significant difference in the mean scores (p-value=0.01). Comparing the mean oral health literacy scores in Part 4 : food that causes the tooth decay between the two groups after the experiment, was also significantly different (p-value=0.01). This gamification learning method is an active learning aimed to communicate cariogenic foods. Under the conditions and context of the target students this gamification is effective to enhance basic oral health literacy among primary school children