Table 2 Intragroup and intergroup comparisons of knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) regarding on oral hygiene in control and experimental group at baseline, 3 and 6 months after intervention (N = 202)

Mean oral hygiene knowledge

 Baseline

5.47 ± 1.80

5.75 ± 2.0

 3 months

8.47 ± 1.52

6.07 ± 1.78

 6 months

9.71 ± 1.10

6.13 ± 1.71

 F value

253.689

2.302

 P^∆ value

0.001

0.107

 % change

77.51

6.6

Mean oral hygiene practice

 Baseline

3.42 ± 1.34

3.45 ± 1.144

 3 months

4.34 ± 1.45

3.46 ± 1.15

 6 months

4.51 ± 1.03

3.18 ± 1.31

 F value

32.215

2.254

 P^∆ value

0.001

0.108

 % change

31.87

− 7.82

Mean oral hygiene attitude

 Baseline

2.56 ± 0.84

2.63 ± 0.86

 3 months

2.89 ± 0.79

2.72 ± 0.79

 6 months

3.48 ± 0.69

2.50 ± 0.79

 F value

47.375

3.291

 P^∆ value

0.001

0.039

 % change

35.93

− 4.94

Overall oral hygiene KAP

 Baseline

11.45 ± 2.52

11.83 ± 2.80

 3 months

15.72 ± 2.48

12.24 ± 2.55

 6 months

17.70 ± 2.03

11.82 ± 2.70

 F value

286.823

1.472

 P^∆ value

0.001

0.232

 % change

54.58

− 0.084