Evaluation the efficacy of educational booklet of oral diseases on the patients’ knowledge referred to Mashhad Dental School in 2016, Iran

Background: Due to the high prevalence of oral diseases and lack of knowledge, giving the proper education is needed to familiarize patients with oral diseases. Objective: This study aimed to determine the efficacy of using an educational booklet on patients` knowledge. Methods: This interventional study was conducted from spring to winter 2016 on fifty patients referred to Mashhad Dental School. An educational booklet of oral diseases describes various domains of oral diseases in six different groups. Also a questionnaire containing eighteen questions of oral diseases that was prepared and used in two stages, prior to the intervention and after the intervention. The patients were divided into control (n=25) and intervention (n=25) groups. Initially, a pre-test questionnaire was given to both groups. The intervention group received the educational booklet. After one month, the post-test questionnaire was taken from both groups. Chi-square, Mann-Whitney, Fisher and independent t-test were used for statistical analysis. Findings: The difference between mean score changes was significant in both groups respectively 1.6±0.12 and 5.4±1.5 (P<0.001). The intervention significantly increased the knowledge score for all domains in the intervention group compared to the control group (P<0.001). The booklet had the most significant effect on the awareness of cancer and the least influence on pain. Conclusion: It seems that the educational booklet significantly could enhance the level of patients’ knowledge about oral diseases.