Visual Health Literacy Strategies in Pediatric Dentistry: A Cross-Sectional Evaluation of Preventive Oral Health Communication During a Community Outreach Initiative

Abstract

Oral health literacy plays an important role in promoting preventive oral health behaviors and effective communication in pediatric dentistry. Visual communication strategies have the potential to improve the accessibility, comprehension, and engagement of oral health information; however, evidence regarding their perceived effectiveness in community-based pediatric oral health promotion remains limited. This cross-sectional questionnaire-based study evaluated student presenters' perceptions of visual health literacy strategies implemented during a Pediatric Dentistry Poster Forum conducted as a community outreach initiative at the University of Tripoli, Libya. Fourth-year undergraduate dental students developed and presented visual educational materials addressing common pediatric oral health conditions and preventive topics. Upon completion of the event, 178 student presenters completed a structured electronic questionnaire assessing perceptions of visual health literacy, communication effectiveness, misconception resolution, audience engagement, information retention, and practical application. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Cronbach's alpha coefficient, and Pearson's chi-square tests. The mean participant age was 24.3 ± 1.1 years, and 78.7% were female. Participants reported highly favorable perceptions of the visual communication materials, with 69.1% indicating that the posters provided accurate and up-to-date information, 71.9% agreeing that the information was presented clearly and concisely, and 66.9% reporting that the materials were easy to understand. Overall, 67.4% perceived the posters as effective in addressing common misconceptions related to pediatric oral health, while 97.2% agreed that interactive elements, including games and quizzes, enhanced audience engagement. Positive perceptions were also observed for information retention and practical application, with 65.7% reporting improved recall of information and 62.4% indicating that the knowledge gained could be applied to real-life situations. Nearly all participants (99.4%) recommended the future use of similar visual communication strategies in pediatric dentistry settings. No statistically significant associations were found between poster topic category and perceived communication outcomes (p > 0.05). The questionnaire demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.822). From the perspective of student presenters, visual health literacy strategies were perceived as effective adjuncts for communicating preventive oral health information during community-based pediatric dentistry outreach activities. Although these findings reflect presenter perceptions rather than direct outcomes among children and caregivers, they support further investigation of visual communication strategies as tools for strengthening oral health literacy and preventive oral health promotion in pediatric dentistry.