Resumo

FRITOLA, Márjori et al. Do educational leaflets improve the knowledge of parents when faced with traumatic dental injuries?. Arq. Odontol. [online]. 2014, vol.50, n.4, pp. 178-184. ISSN 1516-0939.

Aim: This study assessed the effectiveness of an educational leaflet in improving the knowledge of parents/guardians of children of up to 12 years of age regarding emergency care in TDI cases. Methods: A sample of 257 parents/guardians of children of up to 12 years of age -who were undergoing follow-up treatment in the Healthcare Units of the town of Colombo, Paraná, Brazil, between June and September 2012, answered questionnaires that contained questions about their socioeconomic and demographic data, and emergency care actions taken in TDI (QTDI) cases. The QTDI is a self-applied questionnaire that contains 10 multiple choice questions that make reference to TDI situations of avulsion, intrusion, extrusion, and fracture in deciduous and permanent teeth. This questionnaire was applied before (QTDI1) and immediately after (QTDI2) the educational leaflet had been read. The leaflet was based on the specific advice provided by the Brazilian Society of Dental Traumatology, which contained instructions on the proper emergency care that should be applied in TDI cases, as well as colored illustrations about TDI in a simple and objective language. Results: After the leaflet had been read, an increase in the total QTDI2 score (Wilcoxon test, p < 0.001), as well as in the frequency of correct answers in most of the individual questions, could be observed. This increase in knowledge was more expressive for young participants (rs = -0.127, p = 0.042), with a higher education level (Mann-Whitney test, p < 0.001), a higher family income (rs = 0.135, p = 0.030) and a lower QTDI1 score (rs = -0.524, p < 0.001). Conclusion: The educational leaflet has proven to be a valid instrument to improve parents'/guardians' knowledge regarding TDI emergency care in children.

Palavras-chave : Health education; dental.; Tooth injuries.; Knowledge.; Child.; Parents..