TY - JOUR
T1 - Effectiveness of mobile augmented reality–integrated oral health education for community-dwelling older adults
T2 - A randomized controlled trial
AU - Romalee, Worachate
AU - Tsai, Fa Tzu
AU - Hsu, Yi Chen
AU - Hsu, Ming Lun
AU - Wang, Ding Han
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Authors
PY - 2024/2
Y1 - 2024/2
N2 - Background & purpose: Oral health education helps older adults optimize their oral health. However, traditional lecture-based oral health education has limitations, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Mobile augmented reality (MAR) has emerged as an alternative educational method. This study compared the effectiveness of MAR-integrated oral health education with that of lecture-based education and no education. Methods: This parallel, randomized controlled, open-label trial enrolled 75 older adults from six activity centers. The participants were randomly assigned, by a random number table technique, to the lecture-based, MAR, or control group. Data on oral healthcare-related knowledge, self-efficacy, and oral health status were collected through questionnaires and oral examinations at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and at a 2-week follow-up. The MAR system's usability was assessed. Statistical analyses, comprising descriptive statistics and inferential tests, were performed. Results: Data from 61 participants were analyzed, 22 in the lecture-based group, 20 in the MAR group, and 19 in the control group. Both lectures and MAR education significantly improved oral health status. However, changes in knowledge and self-efficacy scores were significantly different only for the MAR versus control group (p = .002 and .001, respectively). The MAR group demonstrated better knowledge and self-efficacy retention than did the lecture-based group, without significant difference. Usability assessment revealed potential for improvement in the MAR system. Conclusions: MAR-integrated oral health education enhanced the knowledge, self-efficacy, and oral health status of community-dwelling older adults. However, addressing technology adoption and usability challenges is vital. Longer-term evaluations and broader geographical studies are recommended.
AB - Background & purpose: Oral health education helps older adults optimize their oral health. However, traditional lecture-based oral health education has limitations, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Mobile augmented reality (MAR) has emerged as an alternative educational method. This study compared the effectiveness of MAR-integrated oral health education with that of lecture-based education and no education. Methods: This parallel, randomized controlled, open-label trial enrolled 75 older adults from six activity centers. The participants were randomly assigned, by a random number table technique, to the lecture-based, MAR, or control group. Data on oral healthcare-related knowledge, self-efficacy, and oral health status were collected through questionnaires and oral examinations at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and at a 2-week follow-up. The MAR system's usability was assessed. Statistical analyses, comprising descriptive statistics and inferential tests, were performed. Results: Data from 61 participants were analyzed, 22 in the lecture-based group, 20 in the MAR group, and 19 in the control group. Both lectures and MAR education significantly improved oral health status. However, changes in knowledge and self-efficacy scores were significantly different only for the MAR versus control group (p = .002 and .001, respectively). The MAR group demonstrated better knowledge and self-efficacy retention than did the lecture-based group, without significant difference. Usability assessment revealed potential for improvement in the MAR system. Conclusions: MAR-integrated oral health education enhanced the knowledge, self-efficacy, and oral health status of community-dwelling older adults. However, addressing technology adoption and usability challenges is vital. Longer-term evaluations and broader geographical studies are recommended.
KW - Augmented reality
KW - Community-dwelling
KW - Older adults
KW - Oral health education
KW - Self-efficacy
KW - Usability
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85177824040&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.archger.2023.105277
DO - 10.1016/j.archger.2023.105277
M3 - Article
C2 - 37995647
AN - SCOPUS:85177824040
SN - 0167-4943
VL - 117
JO - Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics
JF - Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics
M1 - 105277
ER -