Banakar M, Lankarani K B, Vali M, Tabrizi R, Taherifard E, Akbari M. The effect of mass media campaigns on oral health knowledge: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Dent Hyg 2023; DOI: 10.1111/idh.12715.

Mass media campaigns may have positive effects on oral health knowledge, especially in the working-age population.

This study evaluated the effect of mass media campaigns on oral health knowledge as a systematic meta-analysis and review. The databases such as the Web of Sciences (ISI), Scopus, PubMed/Medline, and the Cochrane Library were searched systematically until February 2022. The meta-analysis comprised a total number of seven articles. The pooled results indicated significant increases in oral health knowledge among included studies. In subgroup analyses, the effects of mass media campaigns on oral health knowledge remained significant for the studies with follow-up of less than 150 weeks and working-age populations compared to other categories. More initiatives are needed for improving health knowledge among children. The effects of these campaigns seem to be time-dependent and higher in shorter follow-up periods.