Impact of Modern Oral Health Education on Oral Microbiota
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Impact of Modern Oral Health Education on Oral Microbiota Shift in Welsh School Pupils using Interactive Media Technology Approach (Longitudinal pilot study)
IRAS ID
204942
Contact name
Nadja Melo
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
R&D ABM UHB
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 6 months, 1 days
Research summary
Research Summary
This pilot study explores a modern strategy of knowledge and practice transfer in oral health education using new interactive educational media technology and compares its effectiveness with traditional oral health education. The outcome measure will be oral microbiota characterisation supported by a state-of-the art genetic tools and oral immune factors. Video games have the ability to engage children in learning experiences with potential positive effects when its content is prosocial. Video games have also been applied to improve children’s health care successfully. Various games have been developed targeting children with chronic medical conditions to improve self-care skills and medical compliance, resulting in significant improvement of self-care and decrease in urgent medical visits. Oral health care provided by the NHS in UK and Wales is problematic; recent epidemiological data in Wales showed a relative improvement in the incidence of caries in 5 year old children, however for deprived sub-groups this is not the case. The best (Vale of Glamorgan) and the worse (Blaenau Gwent) showed an increase in caries levels in their deprived populations. In addition oral disease may results from disturbance of the balance of oral ecosystem, and microbial population shifts lead to increased pathogenic species which contribute to the onset and development of oral diseases, caries and periodontal disease. Therefore understanding the relationship of oral pathogens in human oral ecosystem is important to determine risk factor and development of treatment strategies. This project presents an unique approach combining a modern health educational strategy with biological measurement of oral microbiome. Thus the outcomes of this project will potentially contribute broadly on education and health, including development of new strategies for health care staff training in hospital and community.Summary of Results
The study was terminated earlier due to unprecedented knocked effect caused by COVID-pandemic, which was aggravated by unforeseen changes in the structure of the university research laboratory since September 2019 and school term dependence. Recruitment of pupils participants before that period were highly dependent on pro-active attitude of school staff, in particular the head teachers, parents of pupils living in deprived school areas had very poor response and interest in providing consent for their kids to participating in the research. Research team in conjunction with the school staff had to work very hard to meet the parents, discussing and giving them the opportunity to consent. Pupils were very keen to be partaker.REC name
West Midlands - South Birmingham Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/WM/0184
Date of REC Opinion
3 May 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion