Non-Cochrane · intervention · PM35768801

Effectiveness of primary school-based interventions in improving oral health of children in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Akera Peter, Kennedy Sean E, Lingam Raghu, et al. · BMC oral health · 2022 · PubMed · doi:10.1186/s12903-022-02291-2

Oral HealthDental cariesAMSTAR 2: Critically Low / Low (extractors disagree)
Full textEvery question was extracted from the full text, figures and supplements by two independent LLM extractors, disagreements adjudicated. Rows cite where in the review the value comes from.
Questions
21
current version
GRADE rated
7
No studies
0
Included studies
54
linked below
No studies 0 · 0%Ungraded 14 · 66.7%Very low 7 · 33.3%Low 0 · 0%Moderate 0 · 0%High 0 · 0%

Ungraded means an effect was reported without a GRADE rating; it is not a gap. No studies means the review found nothing to answer the question. The six categories are a display order, not a score.

Review question

ElementPlanned (methods)Found (results)
PopulationChildren aged 3-16 years attending primary school in LMICs (post hoc widened age limits)34 included studies (n=6766 max meta-analysis); children aged 3-16 in LMICs; 18 Southeast Asia, 6 Africa, 5 the Americas, 2 Europe, 3 eastern Mediterranean
InterventionPrimary school-based interventions (school health policy; oral health education; healthy school environment; access to oral health services; community involvement), schools as focal delivery siteSchool-based interventions (n=34): mostly oral health education programs; 5 exclusively plaque visualisation/daily tooth brushing/fissure sealants/zinc supplementation; 3 based on WHO health-promoting-schools concept
ComparisonNo intervention or usual practiceSchools receiving no intervention or continuing usual activities
OutcomesPrimary: dental caries by dmft(s)/DMFT(S) scores. Secondary: plaque, gingival disease, oral health knowledge, attitude and behaviour scoresMeta-analyzed (7): DMFT, net increment DMFT, DMFS, net increment DMFS, caries prevalence (dmft/DMFT/S>1), plaque, gingival scores. Narrative only: oral health knowledge, attitude, behaviour, quality of life; adverse events (none reported)
Study designsExperimental and observational studies24 cluster randomised controlled trials, 2 non-randomised trials, 4 quasi-experiments, 4 cohort studies (30 experimental, 4 observational)
TimingPublished 1995 to December 2021 (English only)Intervention durations a few minutes to 7 years; 19 between 1 month and 1 year; 4 over 3 years

Search date: 2020-04-08 to 2020-06-07 (updated via automatic alerts; publication window 1995 to December 2021). Databases: MEDLINE, Embase, Global Health, CINAHL, Emcare, Scopus, Web of Science, WHO website, Google Advanced, Google Scholar; plus hand-searching reference lists of included studies and automatic alerts

Questions and results

Primary school-based interventions (one or more of: school health policy, oral health education, healthy school environment, access to oral health services, community involvement) vs No intervention or usual practice/activities

Population: Primary school children (aged 3-16 years) attending primary school in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs)
21 questions
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Dental caries measured by DMFT scores
Post-intervention; follow-up varied across studies (interventions ranged from <2 years to >=2 years and longer) · Age 6-8 years
Among children aged 6-8 years, DMFT scores were significantly reduced (SMD -0.11); subgroup not separately GRADE-rated.
Source: Results (Subgroup analysis) · same question in other reviews
SMD -0.11 [-0.17, -0.04]NRUngraded
Dental caries measured by net increment in DMFS scores
Post-intervention; follow-up varied across studies (interventions ranged from <2 years to >=2 years and longer) · Intervention type: oral health education
Oral-health-education interventions significantly reduced net increment in DMFS (SMD -1.05); no significant subgroup difference vs other interventions (P=0.74).
Source: Results (Subgroup analysis) · same question in other reviews
SMD -1.05 [-2.03, -0.08]3 studiesUngraded
Dental caries measured by DMFT scores
<2 years · Intervention duration <2 years
Interventions lasting <2 years showed no significant effect on DMFT scores (SMD 0.01); subgroup not separately GRADE-rated.
Source: Results (Subgroup analysis); Fig. 2 (subgroup 2.2.1) · same question in other reviews
SMD 0.01 [-0.16, 0.18]3 studiesUngraded
Dental caries measured by DMFT scores
Post-intervention; follow-up varied across studies (interventions ranged from <2 years to >=2 years and longer) · Age 8-15 years
Among children aged 8-15 years, DMFT scores were significantly reduced (SMD -0.41), a larger effect than in 6-8 year-olds.
Source: Results (Subgroup analysis) · same question in other reviews
SMD -0.41 [-0.50, -0.32]NRUngraded
Dental caries measured by net increment in DMFS scores
Post-intervention; follow-up varied across studies (interventions ranged from <2 years to >=2 years and longer) · Intervention type: other (daily tooth brushing)
Other interventions (daily tooth brushing) significantly reduced net increment in DMFS (SMD -1.23).
Source: Results (Subgroup analysis) · same question in other reviews
SMD -1.23 [-1.46, -1.00]1 studyUngraded
Dental caries measured by DMFT scores
>=2 years · Intervention duration >=2 years
Interventions lasting >=2 years significantly reduced DMFT scores (SMD -0.49); subgroup difference by duration was significant (P=0.004).
Source: Results (Subgroup analysis); Fig. 2 (subgroup 2.2.2) · same question in other reviews
SMD -0.49 [-0.79, -0.19]4 studiesUngraded
Dental caries measured by net increment in DMFT scores
Post-intervention; follow-up varied across studies (interventions ranged from <2 years to >=2 years and longer) · Age 5-8 years
Among children aged 5-8 years, net increment in DMFT was not significantly reduced (SMD -0.36); no significant subgroup difference by age.
Source: Results (Subgroup analysis) · same question in other reviews
SMD -0.36 [-0.76, 0.04]5 studiesUngraded
Dental caries measured by DMFS scores
Post-intervention; follow-up varied across studies (interventions ranged from <2 years to >=2 years and longer)
The effect of school-based interventions on DMFS scores is uncertain and not statistically significant (SMD -0.26; very low certainty).
Source: Abstract; Results (DMFS scores); Fig. 4; Table 4 (SoF) · same question in other reviews
SMD -0.26 [-0.70, 0.18]5 studies · 3506 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, indirectness
Dental caries measured by net increment in DMFS scores
Post-intervention; follow-up varied across studies (interventions ranged from <2 years to >=2 years and longer) · WHO health-promoting-schools framework
Interventions based on the WHO health-promoting-schools framework showed no significant effect on net increment in DMFS (SMD -0.57).
Source: Results (Subgroup analysis) · same question in other reviews
SMD -0.57 [-1.56, 0.42]2 studiesUngraded
Dental caries measured by net increment in DMFS scores
Post-intervention; follow-up varied across studies (interventions ranged from <2 years to >=2 years and longer) · Non-WHO-framework interventions
Non-WHO-framework interventions significantly reduced net increment in DMFS (SMD -1.88); no significant subgroup difference vs WHO-framework (P=0.11).
Source: Results (Subgroup analysis) · same question in other reviews
SMD -1.88 [-3.15, -0.60]NRUngraded
Dental caries measured by DMFS scores
Post-intervention; follow-up varied across studies (interventions ranged from <2 years to >=2 years and longer) · <=3 intervention activities
Interventions with <=3 activities showed no significant effect on DMFS scores (SMD -0.58); no significant subgroup difference by number of activities.
Source: Results (Subgroup analysis) · same question in other reviews
SMD -0.58 [-1.62, 0.45]NRUngraded
Dental caries prevalence measured by dmft or DMFT/S score greater than one
<2 years · Intervention duration <2 years
Interventions lasting <2 years showed no significant effect on caries prevalence (RR 0.95); subgroup not separately GRADE-rated.
Source: Results (Subgroup analysis); Fig. 6 (subgroup 2.4.1) · same question in other reviews
RR 0.95 [0.75, 1.21]2 studiesUngraded
Oral hygiene measured by plaque scores
Post-intervention; follow-up varied across studies (interventions ranged from <2 years to >=2 years and longer)
School-based interventions may reduce dental plaque scores (SMD -0.32, favouring intervention), but the certainty of evidence is very low.
Source: Abstract; Results (plaque scores); Fig. 7; Table 4 (SoF) · same question in other reviews
SMD -0.32 [-0.46, -0.18]7 studies · 3339 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, indirectness
Oral hygiene measured by mean gingival scores
Post-intervention; follow-up varied across studies (interventions ranged from <2 years to >=2 years and longer)
The effect of school-based interventions on gingival scores is uncertain and not statistically significant (SMD 0.12; very low certainty).
Source: Abstract; Results (gingival scores); Fig. 8; Table 4 (SoF) · same question in other reviews
SMD 0.12 [-0.32, 0.55]3 studies · 1573 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, indirectness
Dental caries measured by DMFT scores
Post-intervention; follow-up varied across studies (interventions ranged from <2 years to >=2 years and longer)
Primary school-based interventions may reduce dental caries measured by DMFT scores (SMD -0.33, favouring intervention), but the certainty of evidence is very low.
Source: Abstract; Results (Dental caries measured by DMFT scores); Fig. 2; Table 4 (SoF) · same question in other reviews
SMD -0.33 [-0.56, -0.10]7 studies · 6766 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, indirectness
Dental caries prevalence measured by dmft or DMFT/S score greater than one
Post-intervention; follow-up varied across studies (interventions ranged from <2 years to >=2 years and longer)
School-based interventions may reduce the prevalence of dental caries (RR 0.70, favouring intervention), but the certainty of evidence is very low.
Source: Abstract; Results (Dental caries prevalence); Fig. 6; Table 4 (SoF) · same question in other reviews
RR 0.70 [0.53, 0.94]
60.2% (553/919, control) vs 42.5% (871/2049, intervention)
4 studies · 2968 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, indirectness
Dental caries measured by net increment in DMFT scores
Post-intervention; follow-up varied across studies (interventions ranged from <2 years to >=2 years and longer)
The effect of school-based interventions on net increment in DMFT scores is uncertain and not statistically significant (SMD -0.34; very low certainty).
Source: Abstract; Results (net increment in DMFT scores); Fig. 3; Table 4 (SoF) · same question in other reviews
SMD -0.34 [-0.69, 0.02]5 studies · 5492 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, indirectness
Dental caries prevalence measured by dmft or DMFT/S score greater than one
>=2 years · Intervention duration >=2 years
Interventions lasting >=2 years significantly reduced caries prevalence (RR 0.58); subgroup difference by duration was significant (P=0.03).
Source: Results (Subgroup analysis); Fig. 6 (subgroup 2.4.2) · same question in other reviews
RR 0.58 [0.40, 0.84]2 studiesUngraded
Dental caries measured by DMFS scores
Post-intervention; follow-up varied across studies (interventions ranged from <2 years to >=2 years and longer) · >3 intervention activities
Interventions with >3 activities showed no significant effect on DMFS scores (SMD 0.02).
Source: Results (Subgroup analysis) · same question in other reviews
SMD 0.02 [-0.13, 0.17]NRUngraded
Dental caries measured by net increment in DMFT scores
Post-intervention; follow-up varied across studies (interventions ranged from <2 years to >=2 years and longer) · Age 9-12 years
Among children aged 9-12 years, net increment in DMFT was not significantly reduced (SMD -0.20).
Source: Results (Subgroup analysis) · same question in other reviews
SMD -0.20 [-0.44, 0.04]1 studyUngraded
Dental caries measured by net increment in DMFS scores
Post-intervention; follow-up varied across studies (interventions ranged from <2 years to >=2 years and longer)
School-based interventions may reduce the net increment in DMFS scores (SMD -1.09, favouring intervention), but the certainty of evidence is very low.
Source: Abstract; Results (net increment DMFS scores); Fig. 5; Table 4 (SoF) · same question in other reviews
SMD -1.09 [-1.91, -0.27]4 studies · 3755 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, indirectness

AMSTAR 2 appraisal

Two independent extractors rated each item. Their ratings are shown side by side because they have not been reconciled yet. The overall rating follows Shea et al. 2017: one critical flaw gives Low, more than one gives Critically Low.

ItemExtractor AExtractor BAgree
1Research question includes PICO componentsYesYesyes
2Protocol established before the reviewcriticalPartial YesNono
3Choice of study designs explainedNoNoyes
4Comprehensive literature searchcriticalPartial YesPartial Yesyes
5Study selection in duplicateNoNoyes
6Data extraction in duplicateYesYesyes
7List of excluded studies with reasonscriticalYesYesyes
8Included studies described in detailYesYesyes
9Risk of bias assessed satisfactorilycriticalRCT: Yes · NRSI: YesNRSI: Yes · RCT: Yesno
10Funding of included studies reportedNoNoyes
11Appropriate meta-analysis methodscriticalRCT: Yes · NRSI: NoNRSI: Yes · RCT: Yesno
12Impact of risk of bias on the pooled resultsYesYesyes
13Risk of bias accounted for in interpretationcriticalYesYesyes
14Heterogeneity explainedYesYesyes
15Publication bias investigatedcriticalNoYesno
16Conflicts of interest reportedNoNoyes
OverallCritically LowLowno

Included primary studies 54

Open as a trial list
StudyAlso included byOutcomes it informs hereTrial PICOResults
Duijster et al. 2017
'Fit for school' - a school-based water, sanitation and hygiene programme to improve child health: Results from a longitudinal study in…
PMID:28381246
1 other reviewnot statednot extracted yetnot extracted yet
Gholami et al. 2015
A Brief Self-Regulatory Intervention Increases Dental Flossing in Adolescent Girls.
PMID:25549910
1 other reviewnot statednot extracted yetnot extracted yet
Haleem et al. 2012
School-based strategies for oral health education of adolescents--a cluster randomized controlled trial.
PMID:23249443
1 other reviewnot statednot extracted yetnot extracted yet
Nammontri et al. 2013
Enhancing oral health via sense of coherence: a cluster-randomized trial.
PMID:23018820
1 other reviewnot statednot extracted yetnot extracted yet
Petersen et al. 2004
Effect of a school-based oral health education programme in Wuhan City, Peoples Republic of China.
PMID:15005471
1 other reviewnot statednot extracted yetnot extracted yet
Tai et al. 2009
Assessing the effectiveness of a school-based oral health promotion programme in Yichang City, China.
PMID:19624698
1 other reviewnot statednot extracted yetnot extracted yet
van Palenstein Helderman et al. 1997
Effect evaluation of an oral health education programme in primary schools in Tanzania
DOI:10.1111/j.1600-0528.1997.tb00943.x
1 other reviewnot statednot extracted yetnot extracted yet
Yekaninejad et al. 2012
Effect of a school-based oral health-education program on Iranian children: results from a group randomized trial.
PMID:22985001
1 other reviewnot statednot extracted yetnot extracted yet
Chachra et al. 2011
The most effective and essential way of improving the oral health status education
DOI:10.4103/0970-4388.85825
this review onlynot statednot extracted yetnot extracted yet
Chachra et al. 2011
The most effective and essential way of improving the oral health status education.
PMID:21985877
this review onlynot statednot extracted yetnot extracted yet
Chauhan et al. 2016
School Based Intervention Programme on Gingival Health of 10–12 Years Old Government Aided School Children of Basavangudi in Bangalore…
DOI:10.5958/0976-5506.2016.00070.x
this review onlynot statednot extracted yetnot extracted yet
Chounchaisithi et al. 2014
Use of a disclosed plaque visualization technique improved the self-performed, tooth brushing ability of primary schoolchildren.
PMID:25518180
this review onlynot statednot extracted yetnot extracted yet
de Farias et al. 2009
A Health Education Program for Brazilian Public Schoolchildren: The Effects on Dental Health Practice and Oral Health Awareness
DOI:10.1111/j.1752-7325.2009.00127.x
this review onlynot statednot extracted yetnot extracted yet
de Farias et al. 2009
A health education program for Brazilian public schoolchildren: the effects on dental health practice and oral health awareness.
PMID:19453867
this review onlynot statednot extracted yetnot extracted yet
de Sousa et al. 2002
DOI:10.1111/j.1875-595x.2002.tb00877.x
this review onlynot statednot extracted yetnot extracted yet
de Sousa et al. 2002
Caries reductions related to the use of fluorides: a retrospective cohort study.
PMID:12418598
this review onlynot statednot extracted yetnot extracted yet
Esan et al. 2015
Effect of a school‐based oral health education programme on use of recommended oral self‐care for reducing the risk of caries by children…
DOI:10.1111/ipd.12143
this review onlynot statednot extracted yetnot extracted yet
Esan et al. 2015
Effect of a school-based oral health education programme on use of recommended oral self-care for reducing the risk of caries by children…
PMID:25413008
this review onlynot statednot extracted yetnot extracted yet
Frencken et al. 2001
Effectiveness of an oral health education programme in primary schools in Zimbabwe after 3.5 years
DOI:10.1034/j.1600-0528.2001.290403.x
this review onlynot statednot extracted yetnot extracted yet
Frencken et al. 2001
Effectiveness of an oral health education programme in primary schools in Zimbabwe after 3.5 years.
PMID:11515638
this review onlynot statednot extracted yetnot extracted yet
Gholami et al. 2015
A Brief Self-Regulatory Intervention Increases Dental Flossing in Adolescent Girls
DOI:10.1007/s12529-014-9459-6
this review onlynot statednot extracted yetnot extracted yet
Hartono et al. 2002
Effectiveness of primary school-based oral health education in West Java, Indonesia
DOI:10.1111/j.1875-595x.2002.tb00618.x
this review onlynot statednot extracted yetnot extracted yet
Hartono et al. 2002
Effectiveness of primary school-based oral health education in West Java, Indonesia.
PMID:12090263
this review onlynot statednot extracted yetnot extracted yet
Hebbal and Nagarajappa 2005
Does School‐Based Dental Screening for Children Increase Follow‐Up Treatment at Dental School Clinics?
DOI:10.1002/j.0022-0337.2005.69.3.tb03926.x
this review onlynot statednot extracted yetnot extracted yet
Hebbal and Nagarajappa 2005
Does school-based dental screening for children increase follow-up treatment at dental school clinics?
PMID:15749950
this review onlynot statednot extracted yetnot extracted yet
Hebbal et al. 2011
Evaluation of knowledge and plaque scores in school children before and after health education.
PMID:22135690
this review onlynot statednot extracted yetnot extracted yet
Jaime et al. 2015
Oral Health Education Program on Dental Caries Incidence for School Children
DOI:10.17796/1053-4628-39.3.277
this review onlynot statednot extracted yetnot extracted yet
Jaime et al. 2015
Oral Health Education Program on Dental Caries Incidence for School Children.
PMID:26208075
this review onlynot statednot extracted yetnot extracted yet
Kapadia et al. 1999
Evaluation of a curriculum for dental health in 3rd grade school children in Mumbai, India.
PMID:10863494
this review onlynot statednot extracted yetnot extracted yet
Lai et al. 2016
Long‐term effectiveness of school‐based children oral hygiene program on oral health after 10‐year follow‐up
DOI:10.1111/cdoe.12207
this review onlynot statednot extracted yetnot extracted yet
Lai et al. 2016
Long-term effectiveness of school-based children oral hygiene program on oral health after 10-year follow-up.
PMID:26691608
this review onlynot statednot extracted yetnot extracted yet
Monse et al. 2013
The Fit for School Health Outcome Study - a longitudinal survey to assess health impacts of an integrated school health programme in the…
PMID:23517517
this review onlynot statednot extracted yetnot extracted yet
Naidu and Nandlal 2017
Evaluation of the Effectiveness of a Primary Preventive Dental Health Education Programme Implemented Through School Teachers for Primary…
PMID:28462175
this review onlynot statednot extracted yetnot extracted yet
Nammontri et al. 2013
Enhancing Oral Health <i>via</i> Sense of Coherence
DOI:10.1177/0022034512459757
this review onlynot statednot extracted yetnot extracted yet
Nyandindi et al. 1996
Impact of oral health education on primary school children before and after teachers' training in Tanzania
DOI:10.1093/heapro/11.3.193
this review onlynot statednot extracted yetnot extracted yet
Pakhomov et al. 1997
Effect of an Amine Fluoride Dentifrice on Dental Caries Used in a Community‐based Oral Health Education Program
DOI:10.1111/j.1752-7325.1997.tb02971.x
this review onlynot statednot extracted yetnot extracted yet
Pakhomov et al. 1997
Effect of an amine fluoride dentifrice on dental caries used in a community-based oral health education program.
PMID:9383758
this review onlynot statednot extracted yetnot extracted yet
Peng et al. 2004
Can school‐based oral health education and a sugar‐free chewing gum program improve oral health? Results from a two‐year study in PR China
DOI:10.1080/00016350410010036
this review onlynot statednot extracted yetnot extracted yet
Peng et al. 2004
Can school-based oral health education and a sugar-free chewing gum program improve oral health? Results from a two-year study in PR China.
PMID:15848976
this review onlynot statednot extracted yetnot extracted yet
Petersen et al. 2004
Effect of a school-based oral health education programme in Wuhan City, Peoples Republic of China
DOI:10.1111/j.1875-595x.2004.tb00250.x
this review onlynot statednot extracted yetnot extracted yet
Saied-Moallemi et al. 2009
School‐based intervention to promote preadolescents’ gingival health: a community trial
DOI:10.1111/j.1600-0528.2009.00491.x
this review onlynot statednot extracted yetnot extracted yet
Saied-Moallemi et al. 2009
School-based intervention to promote preadolescents' gingival health: a community trial.
PMID:19694774
this review onlynot statednot extracted yetnot extracted yet
Simpriano and Mialhe 2017
matched by author and year (probable)
this review onlynot statednot extracted yetnot extracted yet
Swe et al. 2021
Effectiveness of oral health education on 8- to 10-year-old school children in rural areas of the Magway Region, Myanmar.
PMID:33388030
this review onlynot statednot extracted yetnot extracted yet
Tai et al. 2009
Assessing the effectiveness of a school‐based oral health promotion programme in Yichang City, China
DOI:10.1111/j.1600-0528.2009.00484.x
this review onlynot statednot extracted yetnot extracted yet
Tomazoni et al. 2019
Can a School-Based Intervention Improve the Oral Health-Related Quality of Life of Brazilian Children?
DOI:10.1177/2380084418816984
this review onlynot statednot extracted yetnot extracted yet
Tomazoni et al. 2019
Can a School-Based Intervention Improve the Oral Health-Related Quality of Life of Brazilian Children?
PMID:30931715
this review onlynot statednot extracted yetnot extracted yet
Uckardes et al. 2009
The effect of systemic zinc supplementation on oral health in low socioeconomic level children.
PMID:20112596
this review onlynot statednot extracted yetnot extracted yet
van Palenstein Helderman et al. 1997
Effect evaluation of an oral health education programme in primary schools in Tanzania.
PMID:9332807
this review onlynot statednot extracted yetnot extracted yet
van Wyk et al. 2004
Evaluation of a Fissure Sealant Program as Part of Community‐Based Teaching and Training
DOI:10.1002/j.0022-0337.2004.68.1.tb03734.x
this review onlynot statednot extracted yetnot extracted yet
van Wyk et al. 2004
Evaluation of a fissure sealant program as part of community-based teaching and training.
PMID:14761173
this review onlynot statednot extracted yetnot extracted yet
Yekaninejad et al. 2012
Effect of a school‐based oral health‐education program on <scp>I</scp>ranian children: results from a group randomized trial
DOI:10.1111/j.1600-0722.2012.00993.x
this review onlynot statednot extracted yetnot extracted yet
Yusof and Jaafar 2013
Health promoting schools and children's oral health related quality of life.
PMID:24325653
this review onlynot statednot extracted yetnot extracted yet
Zacharias et al. 2019
Effectiveness of Randomized Controlled Field Trial Instructing Parents to Supervise Children on Tooth Brushing Skills and Oral Hygiene
DOI:10.2174/1874210601913010076
this review onlynot statednot extracted yetnot extracted yet

Overlap with other reviews

Reviews that include the same primary studies are not independent evidence. Shared counts match studies by PMID, DOI or NCT, and otherwise by author and year (a probable match).