A Digital Intervention to Improve Oral Health Practices

University of Putra Malaysia (UPM)

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: Digital Intervention; Oral Health Behavior Change

Treatments: Behavioral: Oral Health in Hands - Parent Digital Program

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07139561

BMU-BBC

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study evaluates a 16-week parent-focused digital intervention to improve oral health practices in children aged 6-10 through daily reminders, quizzes, challenges, gamification, and behavior tracking, supported by an optional moderated WhatsApp group for peer engagement and motivation.

Full description

The intervention includes daily reminders with two brushing cues and one snack tip to reinforce habits. Weekly quizzes with 3-5 questions assess knowledge, while photo/video tasks such as "Show your foam smile" or "Healthy lunchbox challenge" keep engagement high. Gamification features badges for streaks like a 7-day brushing badge or snack swap champion. Parents track brushing, flossing, and snack swaps via a 1-tap tracker, supported by an optional moderated WhatsApp group.

Enrollment: 800 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 6 to 10 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Parents or primary caregivers of children aged 6-10 years.
• Child must be free from major systemic illnesses or developmental disabilities that could interfere with oral hygiene practices.
• Parent/caregiver owns a smartphone with access to WhatsApp or similar digital platform.
• Ability to read or understand Urdu or English instructions.
• Willingness to participate for the full 12-week duration and provide informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

• Children with serious medical conditions (e.g., immunodeficiency, congenital anomalies) that may affect oral health.
• Parents or children currently enrolled in another oral health education or digital intervention program.
• Children who have received professional oral health education or structured interventions within the past 4 months.
• Parents/caregivers unwilling or unable to comply with digital reporting and participation requirements.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Health Services Research

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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800 participants in 2 patient groups

Control

No Intervention group

Description:

The control group will be given no intervention other than they will receive routinely

Intervention arm

Experimental group

Description:

Oral Health in Hands - Parent Digital Program: The intervention includes daily reminders with two brushing cues and one snack tip to reinforce habits. Weekly quizzes with 3-5 questions assess knowledge, while photo/video tasks such as "Show your foam smile" or "Healthy lunchbox challenge" keep engagement high. Gamification features badges for streaks like a 7-day brushing badge or snack swap champion. Parents track brushing, flossing, and snack swaps via a 1-tap tracker, supported by an optional moderated WhatsApp group.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Oral Health in Hands - Parent Digital Program