NCT02027597

Improving Oral Health With Serious Games

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 161 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of Washington · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 8 Years – 12 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

This study investigated if computer games can be effective at changing the way children take care of their teeth. We a museum exhibit with 3D virtual reality games called "Attack of the S. Mutans!" Our hypothesis was that children who played the games and visited the exhibit would show improved attitudes about oral health, which would translate into improved brushing and self-care habits. In this randomized controlled study with school children aged 8-12, we compared the outcomes for three groups: Group 1) Visited Attack of the S. Mutans!; Group 2) Experienced a hands-on classroom presentation about virtual reality being used for healthcare; Group 3) Received no-treatment.

Conditions

• Caries
• Tooth Decay
• Cavities
• Gingivitis

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Attack of the S. Mutans	A research assistant led groups of students through the Attack of the S. Mutans exhibit. All participants played all the games and viewed all the graphical content of the exhibit.
OTHER	Follow-up	This group experienced the Attack of the S. Mutans! exhibit and 3 doses of follow-up booster content at a web site.
OTHER	SnowWorld	SnowWorld is a 3D first-person-shooter game developed by Firsthand Technology. In SnowWorld, the player shoots snowballs at penguins, polar bears, and other features of a frozen landscape. The game is designed to help burn victims cope with pain, and has no oral health messages.

Timeline

• Start date: 2008-10-01
• Primary completion: 2010-12-01
• Completion: 2011-08-01
• First posted: 2014-01-06
• Last updated: 2014-01-06

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States