public function tableExists($table)
    {
        $table_query = "SHOW TABLES LIKE '{$table}'";

        $statement = $this->pdo->prepare($table_query);

        $statement->execute();

        $row_count = $statement->rowCount();

        if ($row_count == 0) {
            return false;
        } else {
            return true;
        }
    }