Desenvolvimento de estratégias e ferramentas digitais para promoção de saúde oral

Abstract

Introduction: Oral diseases affect almost half of the world's population, causing a serious impact on people's quality of life. To overcome this huge problem, oral health promotion is one of the most effective methods and, in this context, digital technologies can play a key role in achieving the goal of reducing oral diseases by providing a broader platform to reach the entire population, regardless of their individual characteristics. Objectives: The general objective was to investigate and catalog the digital strategies and tools currently available for the promotion of oral communication, covering the various age groups (children, adolescents, adults and seniors). The specific objectives included developing oral health infographics using digital tools; and assessing the impact of this dissemination on the target population. Material and methods: The images and storyboards were created using Procreate (iPad) and Canva, with consideration of the target audience to ensure easy reading through an attractive and simple format. The infographic on Dental Trauma was aimed at 9-year-old children, students in the 4th grade at Academi@STEM in Mangualde. Two questionnaires were administered to assess the children's knowledge on the topic before and after viewing the infographic, shared via a link. Additional infographics on Alzheimer's and Oral Health, proper toothpaste usage, orthodontics, endodontics, and oral cancer were also created for future dissemination. Results: Six communication items were planned, one for the website and the others for social media. The pilot study, involving 31 children, showed that the infographic improved knowledge about dental trauma but highlighted the need for image enhancements and regular interventions to ensure ideal oral health literacy levels and long-term positive impacts. Conclusion: The results indicate that interventions based on digital technologies can improve oral health literacy and help solve this problem in different age groups.

Date of Award	22 Jul 2024
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Ana Sofia Duarte (Supervisor) & Sara Costa (Co-Supervisor)