Assessing the Impact of a Social Media-Based Educational Intervention Using WhatsApp Video Messages on Dental Caries Prevention Knowledge, Oral Hygiene Practices, and Attitudes Toward Dental Health Among Primary School Children Aged 10-12 Years in Public Schools in Cairo Governorate, Egypt: A Quasi-

ConditionsDental Caries Oral Health Behavior Change Oral Hygiene, Oral Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice Child Behavioral Health Preventive Health Care

Trial statusNot yet recruiting

Trial phaseNot applicable

Trial typeInterventional

Biological sexAll

Age10-12

SponsorRana Mohamed Ahmed Farghal

About this trial

The goal of this study is to learn if educational videos sent through WhatsApp can improve dental health knowledge, healthy habits, and attitudes in primary school children aged 10 to 12 years in Cairo, Egypt.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

* Do children who receive dental health videos through WhatsApp have better knowledge about caring for their teeth after 8 weeks compared to children who do not receive the videos? * Do children who watch the videos brush their teeth more often and correctly, and make healthier food choices? * Do children who watch the videos feel more positive about taking care of their teeth and visiting the dentist?

Researchers will compare children in Grade 5 who receive 6 short dental health videos through WhatsApp (one video per week for 6 weeks) to children in Grade 6 who continue their normal school activities to see if the videos lead to better knowledge, healthy habits, and more positive attitudes about dental health.

Participants will:

* Answer questions about their dental health knowledge, tooth brushing and eating habits, and feelings about dental care at the start of the study (takes about 15 to 20 minutes in a private room at school) * Children in Grade 5 will join a WhatsApp group and receive one short video (2 to 5 minutes) each week for 6 weeks about topics like why teeth are important, how to brush teeth correctly, which foods are goo

Eligibility criteria

This trial accepts healthy volunteers

Qualifiers

Children aged 10 to 12 years (Grades 5 or 6)

Enrolled in the selected public primary school in Cairo, Egypt

Able to understand and speak Arabic

Parent or legal guardian provides written informed consent

Disqualifiers

Children with severe cognitive or developmental disabilities that would prevent understanding questionnaire items or educational content

Children with serious chronic medical conditions requiring intensive medical care that would interfere with study participation

Children who are unable to attend school regularly (more than 2 days absence per week on average)

Children who plan to transfer to another school during the study period (8 weeks)

Trial design

Design model

Parallel

Treatments tested in this trial

WhatsApp-Based Dental Health Education for Children
Behavioral
Six educational videos about dental health delivered via a closed WhatsApp group over 6 weeks (one video per week, posted every Monday at 4:00 PM). Each video is 2-5 minutes long, features Arabic voiceover with colorful animations, and is age-appropriate for children aged 10-12 years. Video topics: Week 1 - Importance of teeth (anatomy, functions, consequences of tooth loss), Week 2 - Proper brushing technique (circular motion, all surfaces, 2-minute duration, twice daily), Week 3 - Foods that harm teeth (sugary foods, sticky snacks, frequent eating), Week 4 - Foods good for teeth (calcium-rich foods, crunchy vegetables, water), Week 5 - Importance of dental visits (professional cleaning, preventive care, reducing fear), Week 6 - Fun tips for healthy smiles (review, establishing routines, positive reinforcement). All videos selected based on evidence-based content aligned with WHO and American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry guidelines.

Treatment groups

150 Participants

are divided into 2 treatment groups

Group A: Intervention GroupExperimental treatment 1 intervention

Group B: Control GroupNo intervention 0 interventions

Trial outcomes

Primary outcomes

Change in Dental Health Knowledge Score

Change in dental health knowledge from baseline to Week 8, measured using a validated 10-item questionnaire. Each correct answer scores 1 point (total score range 0-10, with higher scores indicating better knowledge). Questions assess knowledge about tooth anatomy and functions, causes of tooth decay, proper brushing technique, recommended brushing frequency and duration, beneficial and harmful foods for teeth, and importance of regular dental visits. Good knowledge is defined as a score of 8 or higher out of 10. The primary outcome is the mean change in knowledge score between baseline and Week 8.

Time frame

Baseline (Week 0) and 8 weeks after baseline

Secondary outcomes

Change in Dental Health Practices Score

Change in oral health practices from baseline to Week 8, measured using a validated 9-item questionnaire (total score range 0-18, with higher scores indicating better practices). Items assess toothbrushing frequency (twice daily), duration (2 minutes), technique (all tooth surfaces), fluoride toothpaste use, consumption of sugary foods and drinks, eating between meals, eating sweets before bed, rinsing mouth after meals, and eating vegetables and fruits. Each item scores 0-2 points based on adherence to recommended practices. Good practices are defined as a score of 13 or higher out of 18. The outcome is the mean change in practices score between baseline and Week 8.

Time frame

Baseline (Week 0) and 8 weeks after baseline

Sponsors and contacts

Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.

Rana Mohamed Ahmed Farghal

Lead sponsor

Military Medical Academy,Egypt

Sponsor institution

Military Medical Academy, Bulgaria

Collaborator

Cairo University