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Musa R, Elamin D, Barrie R, Kimmie-Dhansay F. Effectiveness of Mobile App Interventions to Improve Periodontal Health: Protocol for a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. JMIR Res Protoc 2024; 13:e50479. [PMID: 39083769 PMCID: PMC11325127 DOI: 10.2196/50479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Periodontal health plays a key role as a shared reference point for evaluating periodontal diseases and identifying significant treatment outcomes. Providing adequate instruction and enhancing the motivation of patients to maintain proper oral hygiene are crucial factors for successful periodontal treatment, with self-performed regular oral hygiene identified as a critical factor in improving the outcomes of treatment for periodontal diseases. Recently, mobile health (mHealth) solutions, especially mobile apps, have emerged as valuable tools for self-management in chronic diseases such as periodontal disease, providing essential health education and monitoring capabilities. However, the use of mHealth apps for periodontal health is complex owing to various interacting components such as patient behavior, socioeconomic status, and adherence to oral hygiene practices. Existing literature has indicated positive effects of mHealth on oral health behaviors, knowledge, attitude, practice, plaque index score, and gingivitis reduction. However, there has been no systematic review of mobile apps specifically targeting patients with periodontal disease. Understanding the design and impact of mHealth apps is crucial for creating high-quality apps. OBJECTIVE The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to evaluate the effectiveness of existing mobile apps in promoting periodontal health. METHODS A comprehensive search strategy will be performed in multiple electronic databases (PubMed, EBSCOhost, CINAHL Plus, Dentistry & Oral Sciences, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials) with the following keywords in the title/abstract: "mobile application," "mobile health," "mHealth," "telemedicine," "periodontal health," "periodontitis," and "text message." Only randomized controlled trials will be included that assessed the following outcomes to measure periodontal health improvement: gingival index, bleeding index, periodontal pocket depth, and clinical attachment loss. Covidence will be used for data collection, and a PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses) flowchart will be used to describe the selection process of the included, identified, and excluded studies. The Confidence in Network Meta-Analysis approach will be used for meta-analysis of the extracted data from the included studies. RESULTS This review will not require ethical approval since no primary data will be included. As of July 2024, a total of 83 articles retrieved from various databases have been imported to Covidence with 13 articles deemed eligible for inclusion in the review. The review is currently ongoing and is expected to be complete by the end of 2024 with the results published in early 2025. CONCLUSIONS This systematic review and meta-analysis will contribute to developing mobile apps with enhanced criteria to improve periodontal clinical outcomes. The review emphasizes the importance of mHealth and preventing periodontal disease, which can set the stage for informed global health care strategies. TRIAL REGISTRATION PROSPERO CRD42022340827; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=340827. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/50479.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reem Musa
- Department of Community Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Dalia Elamin
- Department of Community Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Robert Barrie
- Department of Community Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Faheema Kimmie-Dhansay
- Department of Community Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa
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Foláyan MO, Amalia R, Kemoli A, Sun IG, Duangthip D, Abodunrin O, Virtanen JI, Masumo RM, Vukovic A, Al-Batayneh OB, Mfolo T, Schroth RJ, El Tantawi M. Can the sustainable development goal 9 support an untreated early childhood caries elimination agenda? BMC Oral Health 2024; 24:776. [PMID: 38992678 PMCID: PMC11241917 DOI: 10.1186/s12903-024-04552-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Early childhood caries (ECC) is a global public health challenge that requires innovation, infrastructure, and health system influences to bolster initiatives for its management and control. The aim of this scoping review was to investigate the published evidence on the association between ECC and the targets of the Sustainable Development Goal 9 (SDG9) concerned with industry, innovation, and infrastructure development. METHODS The scoping review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. A search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus between July and August 2023 using a search strategy related to the promotion of resilient infrastructure, sustainable industries, scientific research and innovation, access to the internet and ECC. Only English language publications were included. Studies that solely examined ECC without reference to the SDG9 targets were excluded. RESULTS The search yielded 933 studies for review. After screening for the eligibility and removing duplicates, 916 unique articles remained for further screening. However, none of the identified studies provided data on the association between resilient infrastructure, sustainable industries, scientific research and innovation, access to the internet and ECC. CONCLUSION There were no primary studies that assessed the association between ECC and SDG9, even though the plausibility of a potential relationship exists. Future studies are needed to generate evidence on the link between ECC and SDG9 as this link may contribute to the reduction in the proportion of children with untreated ECC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morẹ́nikẹ́ Oluwátóyìn Foláyan
- Early Childhood Caries Advocacy Group, Winnipeg, Canada.
- Department of Child Dental Health, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
| | - Rosa Amalia
- Early Childhood Caries Advocacy Group, Winnipeg, Canada
- Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| | - Arthur Kemoli
- Early Childhood Caries Advocacy Group, Winnipeg, Canada
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Ivy Guofang Sun
- Faculty of Dentistry, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Duangporn Duangthip
- Early Childhood Caries Advocacy Group, Winnipeg, Canada
- Faculty of Dentistry, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Olunike Abodunrin
- Early Childhood Caries Advocacy Group, Winnipeg, Canada
- Lagos State Health Management Agency, Lagos, Nigeria
| | - Jorma I Virtanen
- Early Childhood Caries Advocacy Group, Winnipeg, Canada
- Department of Clinical Dentistry, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Ray M Masumo
- Early Childhood Caries Advocacy Group, Winnipeg, Canada
- Department of Community Health and Nutrition, Tanzania Food and Nutrition Centre, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Ana Vukovic
- Early Childhood Caries Advocacy Group, Winnipeg, Canada
- Clinic for Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, School of Dental Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Ola B Al-Batayneh
- Early Childhood Caries Advocacy Group, Winnipeg, Canada
- Department of Preventive Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
- Department of Preventive and Restorative Dentistry, College of Dental Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Tshepiso Mfolo
- Early Childhood Caries Advocacy Group, Winnipeg, Canada
- Department of Community Health, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Robert J Schroth
- Early Childhood Caries Advocacy Group, Winnipeg, Canada
- Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Maha El Tantawi
- Early Childhood Caries Advocacy Group, Winnipeg, Canada
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Dental Public Health, Faculty of Dentistry, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
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Khafid M, Bramantoro T, Hariyani N, Setyowati D, Palupi R, Ariawantara PAF, Pratamawari DNP, Pindobilowo P, Mohd Nor NA. The Use of Internet of Things (IoT) Technology to Promote Children's Oral Health: A Scoping Review. Eur J Dent 2024; 18:703-711. [PMID: 38198816 PMCID: PMC11290912 DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1776116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Dental treatments and oral health promotion are now more mobile and versatile thanks to the Internet of Things (IoT)-based healthcare services. This scoping review aims to compile the available data and outline the aims, design, assessment procedures, efficacy, advantages, and disadvantages of the implementation of IoT to improve children's oral health. Articles for this review were gathered from PubMed, Scopus, and Ebscohost databases to identify and construct the keywords and primary research topic. The selected studies were published between 2000 and 2022 and focused on children aged 1 to 18 and/or parents/caregivers of children who received oral health promotion and/or dental disease preventive treatments utilizing the IoT. Each study topic required data extraction. A total of nine papers were included in this review. Two of the nine publications were quasi-experimental, while the remaining six papers were randomized control trials. The nine papers considered in this appraisal have a range of interventions and follow-up periods. Mobile-Health (m-Health), home healthcare, hospital/clinical management, and electronic-Health applications (e-Health) are the most common IoT architecture used as interventions. Three studies assessed oral health knowledge and behavior scores, whereas the bulk of studies (6/7) used m-Health treatments focusing on dental plaque buildup as well as gingival health evaluation to assess oral hygiene. IoT is one of the mediums or instruments that might be used to encourage children's dental health. The studies suggest that the use of IoT could help in improving oral hygiene and oral health, which can further improve children's oral health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moh Khafid
- Faculty of Dental Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia
- Faculty of Dentistry, Institut Ilmu Kesehatan Bhakti Wiyata, Kediri, Indonesia
| | - Taufan Bramantoro
- Department of Dental Public Health, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia
| | - Ninuk Hariyani
- Department of Dental Public Health, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia
| | - Dini Setyowati
- Department of Dental Public Health, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia
| | - Retno Palupi
- Department of Dental Public Health, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia
| | | | | | - Pindobilowo Pindobilowo
- Student of Doctoral Program, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia
| | - Nor Azlida Mohd Nor
- Department of Community Oral Health & Clinical Prevention, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya, Malaysia
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Goh CE, Zheng K, Chua WY, Nguyen T, Liu C, Koh CK, Lee GKY, Tay CM, Ooi BC, Wong ML. Development of a dental diet-tracking mobile app for improved caries-related dietary behaviours: Key features and pilot evaluation of quality. Digit Health 2024; 10:20552076241228433. [PMID: 38303969 PMCID: PMC10832442 DOI: 10.1177/20552076241228433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective Diet significantly contributes to dental decay (caries) yet monitoring and modifying patients' diets is a challenge for many dental practitioners. While many oral health and diet-tracking mHealth apps are available, few focus on the dietary risk factors for caries. This study aims to present the development and key features of a dental-specific mobile app for diet monitoring and dietary behaviour change to prevent caries, and pilot data from initial user evaluation. Methods A mobile app incorporating a novel photo recognition algorithm and a localised database of 208,718 images for food item identification was developed. The design and development process were iterative and incorporated several behaviour change techniques commonly used in mHealth. Pilot evaluation of app quality was assessed using the end-user version of the Mobile Application Rating Scale (uMARS). Results User feedback from the beta-testing of the prototype app spurred the improvement of the photo recognition algorithm and addition of more user-centric features. Other key features of the final app include real-time prompts to drive actionable behaviour change, goal setting, comprehensive oral health education modules, and visual metrics for caries-related dietary factors (sugar intake, meal frequency, etc.). The final app scored an overall mean (standard deviation) of 3.6 (0.5) out of 5 on the uMARS scale. Conclusion We developed a novel diet-tracking mobile app tailored for oral health, addressing a gap in the mHealth landscape. Pilot user evaluations indicated good app quality, suggesting its potential as a useful clinical tool for dentists and empowering patients for self-monitoring and behavioural management.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kaiping Zheng
- School of Computing, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Wen Yong Chua
- School of Computing, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Thao Nguyen
- School of Computing, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Changshuo Liu
- School of Computing, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Chun Keat Koh
- Smart Systems Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Chong Meng Tay
- Division of Advanced General Dental Practice, National University Centre for Oral Health Singapore, Singapore
| | - Beng Chin Ooi
- School of Computing, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Mun Loke Wong
- Faculty of Dentistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore
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Chang WJ, Chang PC, Chang YH. The gamification and development of a chatbot to promote oral self-care by adopting behavior change wheel for Taiwanese children. Digit Health 2024; 10:20552076241256750. [PMID: 38798886 PMCID: PMC11119524 DOI: 10.1177/20552076241256750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Oral health is closely related to general health and quality of life. School-aged children are at a critical stage for developing their self-care ability in oral health. Digital interventions can encourage and facilitate oral self-care in children. Objective This study aims to present the development of an educational chatbot for school-aged children to address their oral self-care and evaluate its usability. Methods The development and evaluation of the chatbot for oral self-care consisted of four stages: target behavior analysis, intervention design, system development, and the chatbot evaluation. The target behavior analysis identified barriers to children's engagement in oral self-care based on dentists' clinical observations; hence, the requirements for achieving the desired behavior were categorized according to the capability-opportunity-motivation behavior model. Interventional functions were created following the behavior change wheel. A menu-driven chatbot was created and evaluated for usability as well as likeability. Results The barriers and requirements for achieving good behavior in school-aged children's oral self-care were identified by the dental professionals. Intervention strategy incorporated specific functions enriched with gamification features to support school-aged children in developing their abilities for engaging in oral self-care. The intervention functions consist of capability establishment, motivation enhancement, and opportunity creation, which were designed to support children in their oral self-care practices. The designed chatbot was piloted with a convenient sample of 30 school-aged children and their accompanying parents at the pediatric dental clinic. The results indicated good usability, with a mean usability score of 79.91, and high likeability with a mean score of 4.32 out of 5 for the designed chatbot. Conclusions The educational chatbot incorporated a combination of clinical dentistry practice and guidelines, aiming to promote oral self-care behavior in school-aged children. The designed chatbot achieved high scores for its usability and user likability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Jen Chang
- Department of Information Management, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Taoyuan Branch, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Ching Chang
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Taoyuan Branch, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Yen-Hsiang Chang
- Department of Dentistry, Linko Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan
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6
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Altmannshofer S, Flaucher M, Beierlein M, Eskofier BM, Beckmann MW, Fasching PA, Huebner H. A content-based review of mobile health applications for breast cancer prevention and education: Characteristics, quality and functionality analysis. Digit Health 2024; 10:20552076241234627. [PMID: 38528967 PMCID: PMC10962048 DOI: 10.1177/20552076241234627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective Mobile Health apps could be a feasible and effective tool to raise awareness for breast cancer prevention and to support women to change their behaviour to a healthier lifestyle. The aim of this study was to analyse the characteristics and quality of apps designed for breast cancer prevention and education. Methods We conducted a systematic search for apps covering breast cancer prevention topics in the Google Play and Apple App Store accessible from Germany using search terms either in German or in English. Only apps with a last update after June 2020 were included. The apps identified were downloaded and evaluated by two independent researchers. App quality was analysed using the Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS). Associations of app characteristics and MARS rating were analysed. Results We identified 19 apps available in the Google Play Store and seven apps available in the Apple App Store that met all inclusion criteria. The mean MARS score was 3.07 and 3.50, respectively. Functionality was the highest-scoring domain. Operating system, developer (healthcare), download rates and time since the last update were significantly associated with overall MARS score. In addition, the presence of the following app functions significantly influenced MARS rating: breast self-examination tutorial, reminder for self-examination, documentation feature and education about breast cancer risk factors. Conclusions Although most of the apps offer important features for breast cancer prevention, none of the analysed apps combined all functions. The absence of healthcare professionals' expertise in developing apps negatively affects the overall quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie Altmannshofer
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Erlangen University Hospital, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Comprehensive Cancer Center ER-EMN, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Madeleine Flaucher
- Machine Learning and Data Analytics Lab, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Milena Beierlein
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Erlangen University Hospital, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Comprehensive Cancer Center ER-EMN, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Bjoern M Eskofier
- Machine Learning and Data Analytics Lab, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Matthias W Beckmann
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Erlangen University Hospital, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Comprehensive Cancer Center ER-EMN, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Peter A Fasching
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Erlangen University Hospital, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Comprehensive Cancer Center ER-EMN, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Hanna Huebner
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Erlangen University Hospital, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Comprehensive Cancer Center ER-EMN, Erlangen, Germany
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Pascadopoli M, Zampetti P, Nardi MG, Pellegrini M, Scribante A. Smartphone Applications in Dentistry: A Scoping Review. Dent J (Basel) 2023; 11:243. [PMID: 37886928 PMCID: PMC10605491 DOI: 10.3390/dj11100243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
This scoping review aims to investigate the latest literature concerning the use of smartphone applications (apps) in the prevention, management, and monitoring of oral diseases. Smartphone applications are software programs that are designed to run on smartphones. Nowadays, smartphones are regularly used by people of all ages, and mobile health apps (MHAs) represent an important means of spreading information related to oral health, which is the state of the mouth and teeth, including the gums and other tissues. Several apps have been designed to promote prevention, diagnosis, and therapeutic adherence monitoring. This scoping review considered randomized clinical trials, cross-sectional studies, before-after (pre-post) studies with no control group, and observational studies. Once the inclusion and exclusion criteria had been defined, a preliminary confined search was performed on PubMed and Scopus; key terms from the collected articles were selected to design a search strategy, and then a search of all the included articles' reference lists was run for further research. Studies were excluded if they did not fulfill the inclusion criteria. The preferred reporting items for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR) consensus was followed. The risk of bias was evaluated by providing a qualitative analysis of the clinical studies via the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) Quality Assessment of Controlled Intervention Studies, Observational Cohort Studies, and Cross-Sectional Studies (NHLBI, NIH). A total of 21 studies were included in this review. As it is clear from the studies selected, the literature indicates that MHAs are effective in improving oral hygiene in adolescents and children and reducing the dental plaque index, including in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment. MHAs are also able to reduce the symptoms of patients affected by obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) and improve the swallowing-related quality of life of elderly patients. MHAs are furthermore recommended to decrease dental anxiety among patients, both during dental procedures and the post-operative period. MHAs are useful to spread knowledge about traumatic dental injuries among non-oral health professionals and to monitor dental erosion and awake bruxism. MHAs' clinical outcomes might have been influenced by the demographic features of the subjects involved. Further studies considering a longer follow-up period and larger samples are needed. In conclusion, MHAs can be considered a useful tool to monitor oral disease and increase patients' quality of life related to oral health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maurizio Pascadopoli
- Unit of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, Section of Dentistry, Department of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (M.P.); (P.Z.); (A.S.)
| | - Paolo Zampetti
- Unit of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, Section of Dentistry, Department of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (M.P.); (P.Z.); (A.S.)
| | - Maria Gloria Nardi
- Unit of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, Section of Dentistry, Department of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (M.P.); (P.Z.); (A.S.)
| | - Matteo Pellegrini
- Maxillofacial Surgery and Dental Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy
- Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milan, Via della Commenda 10, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Scribante
- Unit of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, Section of Dentistry, Department of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (M.P.); (P.Z.); (A.S.)
- Unit of Dental Hygiene, Section of Dentistry, Department of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
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Tokede B, Yansane A, Ibarra-Noriega A, Mullins J, Simmons K, Skourtes N, Mehta U, Tungare S, Holmes D, White J, Walji M, Kalenderian E. Evaluating the Impact of an mHealth Platform for Managing Acute Postoperative Dental Pain: Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2023; 11:e49677. [PMID: 37933185 PMCID: PMC10644946 DOI: 10.2196/49677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Postoperative dental pain is pervasive and can affect a patient's quality of life. Adopting a patient-centric approach to pain management involves having contemporaneous information about the patient's experience of pain and using it to personalize care. Objective In this study, we evaluated the use of a mobile health (mHealth) platform to collect pain-related patient-reported outcomes over 7 days after the patients underwent pain-inducing dental procedures; we then relayed the information to the dentist and determined its impact on the patient's pain experience. Methods The study used a cluster-randomized experimental study design with an intervention arm where patients were prompted to complete a series of questions relating to their pain experience after receiving automated text notifications on their smartphone on days 1, 3, 5, and 7, with the resulting information fed back to dentists, and a control arm where patients received usual care. Providers were randomized, and patients subsequently assumed the enrollment status of their providers. Providers or their staff identified eligible patients and invited them to participate in the study. Provider interviews and surveys were conducted to evaluate acceptance of the mHealth platform. Results A total of 42 providers and 1525 patients participated. For the primary outcome (pain intensity on a 1 to 10 scale, with 10 being the most painful), intervention group patients reported an average pain intensity of 4.8 (SD 2.6), while those in the control group reported an average pain intensity of 4.7 (SD 2.8). These differences were not significant. There were also no significant differences in secondary outcomes, including pain interference with activity or sleep, patient satisfaction with pain management, or opioid prescribing. Patient surveys revealed reluctance to use the app was mostly due to technological challenges, data privacy concerns, and a preference for phone calls over texting. Providers had high satisfaction with the app and suggested integrating additional features, such as an in-system camera for patients to upload pictures and videos of the procedural site, and integration with the electronic health record system. Conclusions While the mHealth platform did not have a significant impact on acute postoperative pain experience, patients and providers indicated improvement in patient-provider communication, patient-provider relationship, postoperative complication management, and ability to manage pain medication prescribing. Expanded collaboration between mHealth developers and frontline health care providers can facilitate the applicability of these platforms, further help improve its integration with the normal clinic workflow, and assist in moving toward a more patient-centric approach to pain management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bunmi Tokede
- The University of Texas Health Science Center, HoustonTX, United States
| | - Alfa Yansane
- School of Dentistry, University of California San Francisco, San FranciscoCA, United States
| | | | | | | | | | - Urvi Mehta
- The University of Texas Health Science Center, HoustonTX, United States
| | - Sayali Tungare
- The University of Texas Health Science Center, HoustonTX, United States
| | | | - Joel White
- School of Dentistry, University of California San Francisco, San FranciscoCA, United States
| | - Muhammad Walji
- The University of Texas Health Science Center, HoustonTX, United States
| | - Elsbeth Kalenderian
- School of Dentistry, University of California San Francisco, San FranciscoCA, United States
- Harvard School of Dental Medicine, BostonMA, United States
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Xiao J, Kopycka-Kedzierawski D, Ragusa P, Mendez Chagoya LA, Funkhouser K, Lischka T, Wu TT, Fiscella K, Kar KS, Al Jallad N, Rashwan N, Ren J, Meyerowitz C. Acceptance and Usability of an Innovative mDentistry eHygiene Model Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic Within the US National Dental Practice-Based Research Network: Mixed Methods Study. JMIR Hum Factors 2023; 10:e45418. [PMID: 37594795 PMCID: PMC10474507 DOI: 10.2196/45418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Amid the COVID-19 pandemic and other possible future infectious disease pandemics, dentistry needs to consider modified dental examination regimens that render quality care and ensure the safety of patients and dental health care personnel (DHCP). OBJECTIVE This study aims to assess the acceptance and usability of an innovative mDentistry eHygiene model amid the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS This pilot study used a 2-stage implementation design to assess 2 critical components of an innovative mDentistry eHygiene model: virtual hygiene examination (eHygiene) and patient self-taken intraoral images (SELFIE), within the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network. Mixed methods (quantitative and qualitative) were used to assess the acceptance and usability of the eHygiene model. RESULTS A total of 85 patients and 18 DHCP participated in the study. Overall, the eHygiene model was well accepted by patients (System Usability Scale [SUS] score: mean 70.0, SD 23.7) and moderately accepted by dentists (SUS score: mean 51.3, SD 15.9) and hygienists (SUS score: mean 57.1, SD 23.8). Dentists and patients had good communication during the eHygiene examination, as assessed using the Dentist-Patient Communication scale. In the SELFIE session, patients completed tasks with minimum challenges and obtained diagnostic intraoral photos. Patients and DHCP suggested that although eHygiene has the potential to improve oral health care services, it should be used selectively depending on patients' conditions. CONCLUSIONS The study results showed promise for the 2 components of the eHygiene model. eHygiene offers a complementary modality for oral health data collection and examination in dental offices, which would be particularly useful during an infectious disease outbreak. In addition, patients being able to capture critical oral health data in their home could facilitate dental treatment triage and oral health self-monitoring and potentially trigger oral health-promoting behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Xiao
- Eastman Institute for Oral Health, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States
| | | | - Patricia Ragusa
- Eastman Institute for Oral Health, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States
| | | | | | - Tamara Lischka
- Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Tong Tong Wu
- Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Kevin Fiscella
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Kumari Saswati Kar
- Eastman Institute for Oral Health, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Nisreen Al Jallad
- Eastman Institute for Oral Health, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Noha Rashwan
- Eastman Institute for Oral Health, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Johana Ren
- River Campus, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Cyril Meyerowitz
- Eastman Institute for Oral Health, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States
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10
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Schroth RJ, Kyoon-Achan G, Levesque J, Sturym M, DeMaré D, Mittermuller BA, Lee J, Lee VHK. A mixed methods approach to obtaining health care provider feedback for the development of a Canadian pediatric dental caries risk assessment tool for children <6 years. FRONTIERS IN ORAL HEALTH 2023; 4:1074621. [PMID: 37065421 PMCID: PMC10090371 DOI: 10.3389/froh.2023.1074621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
IntroductionEarly childhood caries (ECC) is a chronic but preventable disease affecting young children worldwide. Many young children face access to care barriers to early preventive dental visits for a variety of reasons, which can increase their risk for ECC. Non-dental primary health care providers are well positioned to assist in assessing a child's risk for ECC by performing caries risk assessment (CRA). The purpose of this project was to report on primary health care provider and stakeholder feedback in order to refine a drafted CRA tool for Canadian children <6 years of age intended for use by non-dental primary health care providers.MethodsIn this mixed methods project, we conducted six focus groups with primarily non-dental primary health care providers followed by a short paper-based survey to quantify preferences and feedback. Data were thematically and descriptively analyzed.ResultsParticipants’ feedback on the drafted CRA tool included the need for it to be relatively quick to complete, easy and practical to score, easy to implement into practitioners’ clinic schedules, and to include anticipatory guidance information to share with parents and caregivers. All participants (100%) welcomed a CRA tool. Many (85.4%) liked a layout that could be added to tools they already utilize. Most (73.2%) wanted the tool to be in colour, and many (90.2%) wanted the tool to include pictures.ConclusionNon-dental primary health care providers informed the final development and layout of the newly released Canadian CRA tool. Their feedback resulted in a user-friendly CRA tool with provider-patient dynamics and preferences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert J. Schroth
- Department of Preventive Dental Science, Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Shared Health Inc., Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Correspondence: Robert J. Schroth
| | - Grace Kyoon-Achan
- Department of Preventive Dental Science, Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Josh Levesque
- Department of Preventive Dental Science, Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Melina Sturym
- Department of Preventive Dental Science, Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Daniella DeMaré
- Department of Preventive Dental Science, Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Betty-Anne Mittermuller
- Department of Preventive Dental Science, Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Juyoung Lee
- Department of Preventive Dental Science, Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Victor Ho Kong Lee
- Department of Preventive Dental Science, Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
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11
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Ajay K, Azevedo LB, Haste A, Morris AJ, Giles E, Gopu BP, Subramanian MP, Zohoori FV. App-based oral health promotion interventions on modifiable risk factors associated with early childhood caries: A systematic review. FRONTIERS IN ORAL HEALTH 2023; 4:1125070. [PMID: 36968137 PMCID: PMC10036826 DOI: 10.3389/froh.2023.1125070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Early childhood caries (ECC) is a preventable chronic disease. Parents' knowledge and attitudes toward oral healthcare have been associated with higher caries experience in their children. Mobile apps within the context of mHealth interventions are a potential tool for raising awareness and informing parents about their children's oral health. Objectives The aim of this systematic review was to examine the effectiveness of mobile health apps, targeted at parents and caregivers, for the prevention of ECC. Data sources A systematic search was carried out in five scientific databases; Embase, CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycINFO and Web of Science. Study selection and data extraction Original studies, delivering oral health interventions to parents of children <6 years via smartphones, were included. Both quantitative and qualitative findings from the included studies were extracted. Synthesis A convergent segregated approach was used to integrate the quantitative and qualitative evidence, followed by side-by-side display and narrative synthesis. Results Out of 5,953 retrieved articles, five met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. Three articles reported quantitative findings, while two reported both quantitative and qualitative findings. Four studies reported that a mobile app can be an effective tool to improve the oral health knowledge of parents/caregivers, aiding them in incorporating good oral health habits into their children's daily routines. Conclusion This review demonstrated that oral health promotion programs delivered through mobile apps to parents could be effective in improving child oral health awareness among parents. There is a need for more high-quality studies with a large number of participants to find out which features of mHealth interventions with parents could effectively be employed to reduce the prevalence of ECC. Further studies and apps should be developed based on evidence-based behaviour change techniques and incorporate features such as gamification to increase the effectiveness and engagement of the target population. Systematic Review Registration [https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?], identifier [CRD42021268331].
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamalapriya Ajay
- School of Health and Life Sciences, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, United Kingdom
| | - Liane B. Azevedo
- School of Human and Health Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, United Kingdom
| | - Anna Haste
- Centre for Applied Psychological Science, Department of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, Humanities & Law, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, United Kingdom
| | - Alexander John Morris
- School of Dentistry, Institute of Clinical Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Emma Giles
- School of Health and Life Sciences, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, United Kingdom
| | - Banu Preethi Gopu
- School of Health and Life Sciences, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, United Kingdom
| | | | - Fatemeh Vida Zohoori
- School of Health and Life Sciences, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, United Kingdom
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12
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Mayer TMADS, Maior GBS, da Costa NP, do Nascimento MG, Colares V. Effectiveness of a smartphone application on dental anxiety in adolescents: A randomized controlled trial. Int J Paediatr Dent 2023. [PMID: 36840438 DOI: 10.1111/ipd.13064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dental anxiety is a common issue among adolescents. Despite the use of smartphones being an important part of their daily lives, only a few digital-based interventions for dental anxiety have been tested in randomized controlled trials (RCT). AIM The aim of this study was to evaluate a new smartphone application (App) named FALE, which was designed to demonstrate interest from the dentist to adolescent and to reduce dental anxiety. DESIGN This is a RCT in which 184 adolescents aged 10-19 years were randomly allocated into the intervention group (IG) or the control group (CG). The intervention was applied in the waiting room before the consultation at a dental clinic. The IG answered the FALE, which contained 14 questions-of which the first and last questions addressed anxiety, whereas the CG answered the question about anxiety twice with an interval between them. RESULTS There was a significant difference in the distribution of anxiety rating frequencies before and after the intervention period in both groups. For the IG, there was a reduction in anxiety after the intervention of 16.29%, and, in the CG, a reduction of 2.2% (p < .001). CONCLUSION The FALE App effectively reduced dental anxiety before the appointment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Viviane Colares
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil.,Graduate Program in Hebiatrics, University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil.,Department of Clinical and Preventive Dentistry, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
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13
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Chen R, Schneuer FJ, Irving MJ, Chow CK, Kumar H, Tsai C, Sohn W, Spallek H, Bell J, Nassar N. Socio-demographic and familial factors associated with hospital admissions and repeat admission for dental caries in early childhood: A population-based study. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2022; 50:539-547. [PMID: 34837420 DOI: 10.1111/cdoe.12708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Revised: 10/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Dental caries remains a complex childhood condition often requiring preventable hospital admissions. There are limited population-based epidemiological studies that use large and linked data sets to quantify the clinical, socio-demographic and familial risk factors related to hospital admissions for dental caries. The aim of this study was to describe and quantify the rates, socio-demographic, clinical characteristics and familial factors including repeat admissions associated with young children admitted to hospital for dental caries. METHODS This cohort study (n = 33,438) used longitudinally linked hospital admission data among all children aged <six years in NSW, Australia. Socio-demographic and admission characteristics of children and those with one versus two or more admissions for dental caries were compared. Familial risk factors were analysed for a restricted cohort of families with two or more children (n = 18,174) using multivariable logistic regression to assess the familial factors associated with multiple hospital admissions for dental caries adjusting for other socio-demographic characteristics. RESULTS There were 33,438 children aged <six years who had 34,446 hospital admissions for dental caries between 2001 and 2014. The annual rate of 4.3 per 1000 children remained unchanged over the period. Most admissions required general anaesthesia (96%), and 8.4% of children had repeat admissions. Children living in disadvantaged or in regional and rural areas attending public hospitals were more likely to have dental extractions during the admission. Children from the same family had a 2.7-fold increased odds of admission if the first child admitted was less than three years of age (adjusted odd ratio 2.69; 95% CI: 2.36-3.07), a 1.5 fold increase for socioeconomic disadvantage (aOR 1.45; 1.19 - 1.77) and a 1.9 fold increase of admission if the family had 4 or more children (aOR1.88; 1.47 - 2.42). CONCLUSIONS Findings highlight socio-demographic inequities associated with hospital admission for dental caries. The provision of targeted dental care programs for 'at-risk' families should address these inequalities and presents an opportunity to reduce dental caries related hospitalizations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Chen
- The University of Sydney, Westmead Applied Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Francisco J Schneuer
- The University of Sydney, The Charles Perkins Centre, Children's Hospital at Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Michelle J Irving
- The University of Sydney, The Menzies Centre for Health Policy, New South Wales, Australia.,Centre for Evidence and Implementation, VIC, Australia
| | - Clara K Chow
- The University of Sydney, Westmead Applied Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Harleen Kumar
- Sydney Dental Hospital and Oral Health Services, Sydney Local Health District, Surry Hills, New South Wales, Australia.,The University of Sydney, School of Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine and Health, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Carrie Tsai
- Sydney Dental Hospital and Oral Health Services, Sydney Local Health District, Surry Hills, New South Wales, Australia.,The University of Sydney, School of Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine and Health, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Woosung Sohn
- The University of Sydney, School of Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine and Health, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Heiko Spallek
- The University of Sydney, School of Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine and Health, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Jane Bell
- The University of Sydney, The Charles Perkins Centre, Children's Hospital at Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Natasha Nassar
- The University of Sydney, The Charles Perkins Centre, Children's Hospital at Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, New South Wales, Australia
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14
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Alasmari D, Alkhalaf MS, Alqahtani SM, Alqhtani NR, Alqahtani AS, Gufran K, Alotaibi YK. Effectiveness of Smart Applications of Oral Hygiene Instructions on Periodontal Health Compared to Oral Information: A Prospective Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:14703. [PMID: 36429421 PMCID: PMC9689989 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192214703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2022] [Revised: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Nowadays, smartphone applications are widely used in different areas of life, including medical science. The present study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a smartphone application of oral hygiene instructions (OHI) on periodontal health compared to the traditional chairside OHI. All the participants (n = 39) were divided into two groups: control group and test group. Participants of the control group were given verbal OHI and participants of the test group were asked to use a smartphone application to upkeep their oral habits. The gingival index (GI) and Quigley-Hein Turesky modification index (QHTMI) were used for scoring the plaque accumulation at baseline and after one month of the periodontal treatment. A paired t-test and an independent t-test were performed to compare the mean of GI and QHTMI between intra-group and inter-group, respectively. The paired t-test showed significant differences in GI and QHTMI improvement after one month in both groups. Moreover, the independent t-test showed no significant differences between the two groups. However, the test group showed a lower mean score in GI and QHTMI assessments compared to the control group. Smartphone applications in oral health applications did not exhibit any superiority in periodontal health over the traditional OHI method in the current study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dhafer Alasmari
- Department of Periodontology and Oral Medicine, College of Dentistry, Qassim University, Buraydah 52571, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Saeed Maeed Alqahtani
- Consultant Periodontics, Dental Department Border Guard Center, Riyadh 12211, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nasser Raqe Alqhtani
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Dentistry, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdullah Saad Alqahtani
- Department of Preventive Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia
| | - Khalid Gufran
- Department of Preventive Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia
| | - Yasser Khaled Alotaibi
- Consultant Periodontist, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh 12233, Saudi Arabia
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15
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Kanoute A, Carrouel F, Gare J, Dieng SN, Dieng A, Diop M, Faye D, Fraticelli L, Bourgeois D. Evaluation of Oral Hygiene-Related Mobile Apps for Children in Sub-Saharan Africa. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:12565. [PMID: 36231862 PMCID: PMC9565087 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191912565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Revised: 09/24/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
In sub-Saharan Africa, oral health is a real epidemiological challenge. Mobile applications represent a hope for the learning of oral hygiene in children and the fight against oral diseases. This study overviews and assesses the quality of mobile applications linked to oral hygiene for children currently featured on the iOS and Android stores in sub-Saharan Africa. Ten oral health professionals (OHP) used the French Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS-F) to rate 15 selected applications. The highest MARS-F scores for overall quality were reported for Bonne nuit Caillou (3.89 ± 0.74), Mon Raccoon (3.63 ± 0.95), and Chomper Chums (3.54 ± 0.54) while the lowest MARS-F scores for overall quality were achieved by Brushing time (2.31 ± 0.61), De belles dents (2.55 ± 0.55) and Brushing Hero (2.77 ± 0.53). The subjective quality scores ranged from 1.50 ± 0.68 for Brushing time to 3.25 ± 0.97 for Bonne nuit Caillou. Specificity scores ranged from 1.95 ± 0.88 (Brushing time) to 3.75 ± 0.84 (Bonne nuit Caillou). Thus, OHP rated positively the quality of the majority of mobile applications linked to oral hygiene for children, their effect on users' knowledge, attitudes, and intentions to change, and the probability of effective oral hygiene behavior modification. They stated that they would recommend their use to their patients who need them. However, studies analyzing the change in oral hygiene behavior of children using these apps need to be conducted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aida Kanoute
- Public Health Service, Department of Dentistry, Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar 10700, Senegal
| | - Florence Carrouel
- Health, Systemic, Process (P2S), UR 4129 Research Unit, University Claude Bernard Lyon 1, University of Lyon, 69008 Lyon, France
| | - Jocelyne Gare
- Health, Systemic, Process (P2S), UR 4129 Research Unit, University Claude Bernard Lyon 1, University of Lyon, 69008 Lyon, France
- Public Health Laboratory (LASAP), ED2S Doctoral School of Sciences and Health, University Joseph Ki Zerbo, Ouagadougou 7021, Burkina Faso
| | - Serigne Ndame Dieng
- Public Health Service, Department of Dentistry, Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar 10700, Senegal
| | - Amadou Dieng
- Public Health Service, Department of Dentistry, Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar 10700, Senegal
| | - Mbathio Diop
- Public Health Service, Department of Dentistry, Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar 10700, Senegal
| | - Daouda Faye
- Public Health Service, Department of Dentistry, Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar 10700, Senegal
| | - Laurie Fraticelli
- Health, Systemic, Process (P2S), UR 4129 Research Unit, University Claude Bernard Lyon 1, University of Lyon, 69008 Lyon, France
| | - Denis Bourgeois
- Health, Systemic, Process (P2S), UR 4129 Research Unit, University Claude Bernard Lyon 1, University of Lyon, 69008 Lyon, France
- Hospices Civils de Lyon (HCL), 69002 Lyon, France
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16
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COVID-19 Pandemic: An Opportunity for Using Tele-Dentistry for a Better Dental Care. Prehosp Disaster Med 2022; 37:853-855. [PMID: 36106585 PMCID: PMC9530381 DOI: 10.1017/s1049023x22001339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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17
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Carrouel F, du Sartz de Vigneulles B, Bourgeois D, Kabuth B, Baltenneck N, Nusbaum F, Burge V, Roy S, Buchheit S, Carrion-Martinaud ML, Massoubre C, Fraticelli L, Dussart C. Mental Health Mobile Apps in the French App Store: Assessment of Functionality and Quality (Preprint). JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2022; 10:e41282. [PMID: 36223178 PMCID: PMC9607929 DOI: 10.2196/41282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Revised: 09/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Approximately 800 million people, representing 11% of the world’s population, are affected by mental health problems. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated problems and triggered a decline in well-being, with drastic increase in the incidence of conditions such as anxiety, depression, and stress. Approximately 20,000 mental health apps are listed in mobile app stores. However, no significant evaluation of mental health apps in French, spoken by approximately 300 million people, has been identified in the literature yet. Objective This study aims to review the mental health mobile apps currently available on the French Apple App Store and Google Play Store and to evaluate their quality using Mobile App Rating Scale–French (MARS-F). Methods Screening of mental health apps was conducted from June 10, 2022, to June 17, 2022, on the French Apple App Store and Google Play Store. A shortlist of 12 apps was identified using the criteria of selection and assessed using MARS-F by 9 mental health professionals. Intraclass correlation was used to evaluate interrater agreement. Mean (SD) scores and their distributions for each section and item were calculated. Results The highest scores for MARS-F quality were obtained by Soutien psy avec Mon Sherpa (mean 3.85, SD 0.48), Evoluno (mean 3.54, SD 0.72), and Teale (mean 3.53, SD 0.87). Mean engagement scores (section A) ranged from 2.33 (SD 0.69) for Reflexe reussite to 3.80 (SD 0.61) for Soutien psy avec Mon Sherpa. Mean aesthetics scores (section C) ranged from 2.52 (SD 0.62) for Mental Booster to 3.89 (SD 0.69) for Soutien psy avec Mon Sherpa. Mean information scores (section D) ranged from 2.00 (SD 0.75) for Mental Booster to 3.46 (SD 0.77) for Soutien psy avec Mon Sherpa. Mean Mobile App Rating Scale subjective quality (section E) score varied from 1.22 (SD 0.26) for VOS – journal de l’humeur to 2.69 (SD 0.84) for Soutien psy avec Mon Sherpa. Mean app specificity (section F) score varied from 1.56 (SD 0.97) for Mental Booster to 3.31 (SD 1.22) for Evoluno. For all the mental health apps studied, except Soutien psy avec Mon Sherpa (11/12, 92%), the subjective quality score was always lower than the app specificity score, which was always lower than the MARS-F quality score, and that was lower than the rating score from the iPhone Operating System or Android app stores. Conclusions Mental health professionals assessed that, despite the lack of scientific evidence, the mental health mobile apps available on the French Apple App Store and Google Play Store were of good quality. However, they are reluctant to use them in their professional practice. Additional investigations are needed to assess their compliance with recommendations and their long-term impact on users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florence Carrouel
- Health Systemic Process, Research Unit UR4129, University Claude Bernard Lyon 1, University of Lyon, Lyon, France
| | | | - Denis Bourgeois
- Health Systemic Process, Research Unit UR4129, University Claude Bernard Lyon 1, University of Lyon, Lyon, France
- Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Bernard Kabuth
- Prisme Team, Interpsy Laboratory, Research Unit EA4432, University of Lorraine, Nancy, France
- Nancy Psychotherapeutic Center, Laxou, France
| | - Nicolas Baltenneck
- Development, Individual, Process, Disability, University Lyon 2, Lyon, France
| | - Fanny Nusbaum
- Health Systemic Process, Research Unit UR4129, University Claude Bernard Lyon 1, University of Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Valérie Burge
- Prisme Team, Interpsy Laboratory, Research Unit EA4432, University of Lorraine, Nancy, France
- Nancy Psychotherapeutic Center, Laxou, France
| | - Sylvain Roy
- Health Systemic Process, Research Unit UR4129, University Claude Bernard Lyon 1, University of Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Sophie Buchheit
- Prisme Team, Interpsy Laboratory, Research Unit EA4432, University of Lorraine, Nancy, France
- Nancy Psychotherapeutic Center, Laxou, France
| | | | - Catherine Massoubre
- Department of Psychiatry, Research Unit EA7423, Saint-Etienne University Hospital Center of Saint Etienne, University Jean Monnet, Saint Etienne, France
| | - Laurie Fraticelli
- Health Systemic Process, Research Unit UR4129, University Claude Bernard Lyon 1, University of Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Claude Dussart
- Health Systemic Process, Research Unit UR4129, University Claude Bernard Lyon 1, University of Lyon, Lyon, France
- Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France
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18
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Carrouel F, Bourgeois D, Clément C, Tardivo D, Martinon P, Guiral S, Lan R, Viennot S, Dussart C, Fraticelli L. Oral-Hygiene-Related Mobile Apps in the French App Stores: Assessment of Functionality and Quality. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:7293. [PMID: 35742541 PMCID: PMC9223428 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19127293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Mobile health apps can contribute to increased quality of individual oral hygiene behaviors. This study provides an overview and an evaluation of quality of oral-hygiene-related mobile apps currently available in Google Play Store and the French Apple App. A shortlist of nine apps was assessed by 10 oral health professionals using the Mobile App Rating Scale. Intraclass correlation was used to evaluate interrater agreement. Best quality scores were obtained by Oral-B (3.4 ± 0.97), Colgate Connect (3.20 ± 0.63), and Preventeeth (3.10 ± 1.1) and worst ones by Mimizaur se brosse les dents (1.80 ± 0.79) and Kolibree (2.30 ± 0.82). The subjective quality scores ranged from 2.62 ± 0.61 (Oral-B) to 1.5 ± 0.61 (MSD). Specificity of the content ranged from 3.46 ± 0.84 (Preventeeth) to 1.78 ± 0.47 (Mimizaur se brosse les dents). Thus, even if oral health professionals positively evaluated the quality of oral-hygiene-related mobile apps, they are less assertive concerning their impact on the user's knowledge, attitudes, and intentions to change, as well as the likelihood of actual change in the oral hygiene behavior. Further investigations are needed to assess whether information from these apps is consistent with oral hygiene recommendations and to determine the long-term impacts of these apps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florence Carrouel
- Health, Systemic, Process, UR 4129 Research Unit, University Claude Bernard Lyon 1, University of Lyon, 69008 Lyon, France; (D.B.); (C.C.); (P.M.); (S.V.); (C.D.); (L.F.)
| | - Denis Bourgeois
- Health, Systemic, Process, UR 4129 Research Unit, University Claude Bernard Lyon 1, University of Lyon, 69008 Lyon, France; (D.B.); (C.C.); (P.M.); (S.V.); (C.D.); (L.F.)
| | - Céline Clément
- Health, Systemic, Process, UR 4129 Research Unit, University Claude Bernard Lyon 1, University of Lyon, 69008 Lyon, France; (D.B.); (C.C.); (P.M.); (S.V.); (C.D.); (L.F.)
- Prisme Team, Interpsy Laboratory, EA 4432, University of Lorraine, CEDEX, 54015 Nancy, France
| | - Delphine Tardivo
- Laboratory Anthropology, Health Law, and Medical Ethics, UMR 7268, Aix-Marseille University 2, 13344 Marseille, France; (D.T.); (R.L.)
| | - Prescilla Martinon
- Health, Systemic, Process, UR 4129 Research Unit, University Claude Bernard Lyon 1, University of Lyon, 69008 Lyon, France; (D.B.); (C.C.); (P.M.); (S.V.); (C.D.); (L.F.)
| | - Sébastien Guiral
- Laboratory Molecular Microbiology and Structural Biochemistry (MMSB), UMR 5086 CNRS/University of Lyon, 69367 Lyon, France;
| | - Romain Lan
- Laboratory Anthropology, Health Law, and Medical Ethics, UMR 7268, Aix-Marseille University 2, 13344 Marseille, France; (D.T.); (R.L.)
| | - Stéphane Viennot
- Health, Systemic, Process, UR 4129 Research Unit, University Claude Bernard Lyon 1, University of Lyon, 69008 Lyon, France; (D.B.); (C.C.); (P.M.); (S.V.); (C.D.); (L.F.)
| | - Claude Dussart
- Health, Systemic, Process, UR 4129 Research Unit, University Claude Bernard Lyon 1, University of Lyon, 69008 Lyon, France; (D.B.); (C.C.); (P.M.); (S.V.); (C.D.); (L.F.)
| | - Laurie Fraticelli
- Health, Systemic, Process, UR 4129 Research Unit, University Claude Bernard Lyon 1, University of Lyon, 69008 Lyon, France; (D.B.); (C.C.); (P.M.); (S.V.); (C.D.); (L.F.)
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Martinon P, Saliasi I, Bourgeois D, Smentek C, Dussart C, Fraticelli L, Carrouel F. Nutrition-Related Mobile Apps in the French App Stores: Assessment of Functionality and Quality. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2022; 10:e35879. [PMID: 35285817 PMCID: PMC8961341 DOI: 10.2196/35879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 01/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The global burden of disease attributes 20% of deaths to poor nutrition. Although hundreds of nutrition-related mobile apps have been created, and these have been downloaded by millions of users, the effectiveness of these technologies on the adoption of healthy eating has had mixed. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to review which nutrition-related mobile apps are currently available on the French market and assess their quality. METHODS We screened apps on the Google Play Store and the French Apple App Store, from March 10 to 17, 2021, to identify those related to nutritional health. A shortlist of 15 apps was identified, and each was assessed using the French version of the Mobile App Rating Scale: 8 dietitians and nutritionists assessed 7 apps, and the remaining apps were randomly allocated to ensure 4 assessments per app. Intraclass correlation was used to evaluate interrater agreement. Means and standard deviations of scores for each section and each item were calculated. RESULTS The top scores for overall quality were obtained by Yazio - Régime et Calories (mean 3.84, SD 0.32), FeelEat (mean 3.71, SD 0.47), and Bonne App (mean 3.65, SD 0.09). Engagement scores ranged from a mean of 1.95 (SD 0.5) for iEatBetter: Journal alimentaire to a mean of 3.85 (SD 0.44) for FeelEat. Functionality scores ranged from a mean of 2.25 (SD 0.54) for Naor to a mean of 4.25 (SD 0.46) for Yazio. Aesthetics scores ranged from a mean of 2.17 (SD 0.34) for Naor to a mean of 3.88 (SD 0.47) for Yazio. Information scores ranged from a mean of 2.38 (SD 0.60) for iEatBetter to a mean of 3.73 (SD 0.29) for Yazio. Subjective quality scores ranged from a mean of 1.13 (SD 0.25) for iEatBetter to a mean of 2.28 (SD 0.88) for Compteur de calories FatSecret. Specificity scores ranged from a mean of 1.38 (SD 0.64) for iEatBetter to a mean of 3.50 (SD 0.91) for FeelEat. The app-specific score was always lower than the subjective quality score, which was always lower than the quality score, which was lower than the rating from the iOS or Android app stores. CONCLUSIONS Although prevention and information messages in apps regarding nutritional habits are not scientifically verified before marketing, we found that app quality was good. Subjective quality and specificity were associated with lower ratings. Further investigations are needed to assess whether information from these apps is consistent with recommendations and to determine the long-term impacts of these apps on users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prescilla Martinon
- Health, Systemic, Process UR 4129 Research Unit, University Claude Bernard, University of Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Ina Saliasi
- Health, Systemic, Process UR 4129 Research Unit, University Claude Bernard, University of Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Denis Bourgeois
- Health, Systemic, Process UR 4129 Research Unit, University Claude Bernard, University of Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Colette Smentek
- Health, Systemic, Process UR 4129 Research Unit, University Claude Bernard, University of Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Claude Dussart
- Health, Systemic, Process UR 4129 Research Unit, University Claude Bernard, University of Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Laurie Fraticelli
- Health, Systemic, Process UR 4129 Research Unit, University Claude Bernard, University of Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Florence Carrouel
- Health, Systemic, Process UR 4129 Research Unit, University Claude Bernard, University of Lyon, Lyon, France
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20
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Hijab MHF, Al-Thani D, Banire B. A Multimodal Messaging App (MAAN) for Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder: Mixed Methods Evaluation Study. JMIR Form Res 2021; 5:e33123. [PMID: 34878998 PMCID: PMC8693202 DOI: 10.2196/33123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often exhibit difficulties in social and communication skills. For more than 30 years, specialists, parents, and caregivers have used techniques, such as applied behavioral analysis, augmentative and alternative communication, and the picture exchange communication system to support the social and communication skills of people with ASD. Even though there are many techniques devised to enhance communication, these techniques are not considered in existing social media apps for people with ASD. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to investigate the effect of adding accessibility features, such as text-to-speech (TTS), speech-to-text (STT), and communication symbols (CS), to a messaging app (MAAN). We hypothesized that these accessibility features can enhance the social and communication skills of adults with ASD. We also hypothesized that usage of this app can reduce social loneliness in adults with ASD. METHODS Semistructured interviews were conducted with 5 experts working in fields related to ASD to help design the app. Seven adults with ASD participated in the study for a period of 10 to 16 weeks. Data logs of participants' interactions with the app were collected. Additionally, 6 participants' parents and 1 caregiver were asked to complete a short version of the Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale for Adults (SELSA-S) questionnaire to compare pre-post study results. The Mobile Application Rating Scale: user version questionnaire was also used to evaluate the app's usability. Following the study, interviews were conducted with participants to discuss their experiences with the app. RESULTS The SELSA-S questionnaire results showed no change in the family subscale; however, the social loneliness subscale showed a difference between prestudy and poststudy. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test indicated that poststudy SELSA-S results were statistically significantly higher than prestudy results (z=-2.047; P=.04). Point-biserial correlation indicated that the SELSA-S rate of change was strongly related to usage of the TTS feature (r=0.708; P=.04) and CS feature (r=-0.917; P=.002), and moderately related to usage of the STT feature (r=0.428; P=.17). Lastly, we adopted grounded theory to analyze the interview data, and the following 5 categories emerged: app support, feature relevance, user interface design, overall feedback, and recommendations. CONCLUSIONS This study discusses the potential for improving the communication skills of adults with ASD through special features in mobile messaging apps. The developed app aims to support the inclusion and independent life of adults with ASD. The study results showed the importance of using TTS, STT, and CS features to enhance social and communication skills, as well as reduce social loneliness in adults with ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamad Hassan Fadi Hijab
- Division of Information and Computer Technology, College of Science and Engineering, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Dena Al-Thani
- Division of Information and Computer Technology, College of Science and Engineering, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Bilikis Banire
- Division of Information and Computer Technology, College of Science and Engineering, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar
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Enamel Remineralization Competence of a Novel Fluoride-Incorporated Bioactive Glass Toothpaste-A Surface Micro-Hardness, Profilometric, and Micro-Computed Tomographic Analysis. Tomography 2021; 7:752-766. [PMID: 34842827 PMCID: PMC8628907 DOI: 10.3390/tomography7040063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to analyze the enamel remineralization efficacy of a novel fluoridated bioactive glass (F-BG) toothpaste compared to a standard fluoride toothpaste. Seventy-two enamel blocks (N = 72) were divided into groups of twenty-four blocks according to the toothpaste exposure—group 1: brushed with distilled water, group 2: brushed with fluoride toothpaste (ColgateTM), and group 3: brushed with F-BG toothpaste (BioMinFTM). Pre-brushing, enamel blocks were demineralized using 6 wt.% citric acid (pH = 2.4). Tooth brushing was performed using a mixture of respective toothpaste and artificial saliva (AS), and each enamel block received 5000 linear strokes. The samples were assessed for surface micro-hardness (to estimate Vickers hardness number, VHN), surface roughness (Ra), and volume loss/gain using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). The highest increase in the VHN was noticed for group 3 (117.81) followed by group 2 (61.13), and all the intragroup comparisons were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Demineralization increased the Ra values, and a decrease was observed post-remineralization for all the groups. The maximum Ra decrease was observed for group 3 (−223.2 nm) followed by group 2 (−55.6 nm), and all the intragroup comparisons were again statistically significant (p < 0.05). Micro-CT investigation revealed that the enamel volume decreased after demineralization and increased after remineralization among all groups. The F-BG toothpaste showed greater enamel surface micro-hardness (increased VHN), smoother surface (low roughness), and better volume restoration (remineralization) in comparison to the fluoride toothpaste.
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22
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Xiao J, Meyerowitz C, Ragusa P, Funkhouser K, Lischka TR, Mendez Chagoya LA, Al Jallad N, Wu TT, Fiscella K, Ivie E, Strange M, Collins J, Kopycka-Kedzierawski DT. Assessment of an Innovative Mobile Dentistry eHygiene Model Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic in the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network: Protocol for Design, Implementation, and Usability Testing. JMIR Res Protoc 2021; 10:e32345. [PMID: 34597259 PMCID: PMC8549859 DOI: 10.2196/32345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Amid COVID-19, and other possible future infectious disease pandemics, dentistry needs to consider modified dental examination regimens that render quality care, are cost effective, and ensure the safety of patients and dental health care personnel (DHCP). Traditional dental examinations, which number more than 300 million per year in the United States, rely on person-to-person tactile examinations, pose challenges to infection control, and consume large quantities of advanced-level personal protective equipment (PPE). Therefore, our long-term goal is to develop an innovative mobile dentistry (mDent) model that takes these issues into account. This model supplements the traditional dental practice with virtual visits, supported by mobile devices such as mobile telephones, tablets, and wireless infrastructure. The mDent model leverages the advantages of digital mobile health (mHealth) tools such as intraoral cameras to deliver virtual oral examinations, treatment planning, and interactive oral health management, on a broad population basis. Conversion of the traditional dental examinations to mDent virtual examinations builds upon (1) the reliability of teledentistry, which uses intraoral photos and live videos to make diagnostic decisions, and (2) rapid advancement in mHealth tool utilization. OBJECTIVE In this pilot project, we designed a 2-stage implementation study to assess 2 critical components of the mDent model: virtual hygiene examination (eHygiene) and patient self-taken intraoral photos (SELFIE). Our specific aims are to (1) assess the acceptance and barriers of mDent eHygiene among patients and DHCP, (2) assess the economic impact of mDent eHygiene, and (3) assess the patient's capability to generate intraoral photos using mHealth tools (exploratory aim, SELFIE). METHODS This study will access the rich resources of the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network to recruit 12 dentists, 12 hygienists, and 144 patients from 12 practices. For aims 1 and 2, we will use role-specific questionnaires to collect quantitative data on eHygiene acceptance and economic impact. The questionnaire components include participant characteristics, the System Usability Scale, a dentist-patient communication scale, practice operation cost, and patient opportunity cost. We will further conduct a series of iterative qualitative research activities using individual interviews to further elicit feedback and suggestion for changes to the mDent eHygiene model. For aim 3, we will use mixed methods (quantitative and qualitative) to assess the patient's capability of taking intraoral photos, by analyzing obtained photos and recorded videos. RESULTS The study is supported by the US National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. This study received "single" institutional review board approval in August 2021. Data collection and analysis are expected to conclude by December 2021 and March 2022, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The study results will inform the logistics of conducting virtual dental examinations and empowering patients with mHealth tools, providing better safety and preserving PPE amid the COVID-19 and possible future pandemics. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID) PRR1-10.2196/32345.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Xiao
- Eastman Institute for Oral Health, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Cyril Meyerowitz
- Eastman Institute for Oral Health, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Patricia Ragusa
- Eastman Institute for Oral Health, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
| | | | - Tamara R Lischka
- Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, Portland, OR, United States
| | | | - Nisreen Al Jallad
- Eastman Institute for Oral Health, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Tong Tong Wu
- Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Kevin Fiscella
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Eden Ivie
- Mouthwatch LLC, Metuchen, NJ, United States
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Akmal Muhamat N, Hasan R, Saddki N, Mohd Arshad MR, Ahmad M. Development and usability testing of mobile application on diet and oral health. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0257035. [PMID: 34495979 PMCID: PMC8425540 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0257035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
In several nations, caries in pre-school children remain a significant oral health issue. In an outbreak period such as the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), remote contact and education aimed at the prevention of oral diseases and the preservation of children's oral health are more relevant than ever. Currently, the amount of published applications is far higher than the published scientific studies while the problems of usability remains vulnerable. The goal of this paper was to comprehensively document the phase of development and usability testing of a mobile application for diet and oral health, namely Gigiku Sihat, which was primarily intended to be used by parents and guardians of pre-school children. The mobile application was developed using the System Development Life Cycle principle. Apart from searching for the available oral health application on Android platform, the initial requirement gathering process consisted of situational analysis, concept generation, content development, and features and functional requirement determination. The mobile application design and implementation evolved at each phase before being finalised. Gigiku Sihat was successfully developed in the Bahasa Malaysia. Finalised Gigiku Sihat was installed on mobile devices to determine the usability using translated and validated System Usability Scale questionnaire namely Skala Kebolehgunaan Aplikasi Mudah Alih (SKAMA). The mean score usability with score of 68 and above was deemed to have good usability. This study found that Gigiku Sihat mean (SD) usability score was 77.0 (14.18). The results were promising as they showed that Gigiku Sihat had a good usability. Thus, the development of this mobile application focusing on diet and oral health served as a new source of oral health education and provided a necessary foundation in developing future improved mobile application development for parents in the prevention of early childhood caries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noor Akmal Muhamat
- School of Dental Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia
| | - Ruhaya Hasan
- School of Dental Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia
| | - Norkhafizah Saddki
- School of Dental Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia
| | | | - Mokhtarrudin Ahmad
- Faculty of Applied Communication, Multimedia University, Cyberjaya, Selangor, Malaysia
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