Kiddie doctors education strategy in improving the knowledge, attitude, and oral hygiene status of elementary school children

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the improvement in the knowledge, attitude, and oral hygiene scores of elementary school children after being provided education by kiddie doctors. Materials and Methods: A quasi-experiment design with pretest-posttest control group model was conducted on 143 students belonging ages 8-12 years old in two selected elementary schools. Kiddie doctors educated their peers three times at four-week intervals. Baseline data were collected a week before the education, and the final data were collected a month after the third education session. Data regarding knowledge and attitude were collected using questionnaires filled in by the respondents. The oral hygiene index simplified (OHIS) and patient hygiene performance (PHP) index data were obtained through intra-oral examinations. Data were analyzed using dependent and independent t tests and multiple linear regression analysis. Results: After receiving education, there was a change in the knowledge, attitude, OHIS, and PHP scores (P = 0.005). Kiddie doctors were estimated to decrease the OHIS and PHP scores by 0.312 and 0.579 points, respectively. Conclusions: The education provided by kiddie doctors improved the knowledge, attitude, and oral hygiene status of children. Kiddie doctors could help health workers who are still constrained in routine promotional activities.