A Pre Experimental Study to Assess Effectiveness of Structured Teaching Programme on Knowledge about Dental Caries and its Prevalence among Students in Selected Schools of District Gurdaspur, Punjab

Background: School age is a very important period in life of a person. In this age, a person learns some good moral values and hygienic practices from their curriculum and also from their teachers. Among all those activities of daily living, dental care holds a very important place. Every student must know to take proper care of his/her teeth and oral cavity so as to prevent from any further complication in recent or far future. The aim of this present study was to assess the effectiveness of structured teaching program on knowledge about dental caries and its prevalence among students in selected schools of Gurdaspur. Methods: For determining prevalence of dental caries Oral Hygiene Index was used and a structured knowledge questionnaire comprising of 40 questions was given to the population that comprised of 250 students from selected schools of district Gurdaspur. Questions were divided into different areas of knowledge related to dental caries. Results: The results showed that among 250 students, as per prevalence of dental caries, 64.4% of students were found suffering with moderate level of prevalence. Nearly one fourth 18.4% of students had normal teeth. Very few were seen with 10.4%, severe and 6.8% mild prevalence of dental caries. According to pre test knowledge regarding dental caries, 66% of students had good knowledge regarding dental caries where as 14.8% were having average knowledge regarding dental caries. No student was having below average knowledge regarding dental caries. According to post test knowledge regarding dental caries, 91.2% of students had excellent knowledge regarding dental caries whereas 8.8% were having good knowledge regarding dental caries. No student was having average and below average knowledge regarding dental caries. According to association of level of knowledge of students with selected socio demographic variables such as class, gender, family income and place of living, it was found to be non significant. Hence no socio demographic variable was having any impact on knowledge regarding dental caries among students whereas age depicts significant relationship with the level of knowledge hence it have impact on knowledge regarding dental caries. Conclusion: Hence it may be concluded that out of 250 study subjects, this study reveal that as per prevalence of dental caries, 64.4% of students were found suffering with moderate level of prevalence. Nearly one fourth 18.4% of students had normal teeth. Very few were seen with 10.4%, severe and 6.8% mild prevalence of dental caries. According to pre test knowledge regarding dental caries, 66% of students had good knowledge regarding dental caries whereas 14.8% were having average knowledge regarding dental caries. No student was having below average knowledge regarding dental caries. According to post test knowledge regarding dental caries, 91.2% of students had excellent knowledge regarding dental caries whereas 8.8% were having good knowledge regarding dental caries. No student was having average and below average knowledge regarding dental caries. According to association of level of knowledge of students with selected socio demographic variables such as class, gender, family income and place of living, it was found to be non significant. Hence no socio demographic variable was having any impact on knowledge regarding dental caries among students whereas age depicts significant relationship with the level of knowledge hence it have impact on knowledge regarding dental caries.