mHealth promotion for parents to improve children’s oral health

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This review of the effectiveness of the mHealth-delivered oral health education to parents parents regarding the improvement of parents’ knowledge, behaviours and children’s oral health status included 12 studies. The studies findings were variable with some demonstrating benefit and some no benefit with all 8 of the included RCTs being at high risk of bias.

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Oral hygiene compliance in orthodontic patients

The authors recommended that people with severe mental illness should be given help with oral hygiene.

This review of the effectiveness of behavioural change techniques (BCTs) on individuals undergoing orthodontic treatment included 10 studies involving 1017 patients. While the interventions tested improved oral health behaviours the quality of the evidence is very low.

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Oral hygiene advice: Use of mobile phone applications in children and adolescents

There's huge potential for smartphones to be used in this kind of research

This review of the effectiveness of interventions delivered by mobile phones in improving adherence to oral hygiene advice for children and adolescents included just 2 small RCTs involving a total of 130 patients. The findings suggest that mobile phones are effective in improving adherence to oral hygiene advice in orthodontic patients.

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Mobile apps- can then improve dental health?

This RCT looked at whether Mentalization Based Treatment for Adolescents reduced self-harming beahviour

This review of the effectiveness of mobile applications and text messages on oral health included 15 RCTs providing very low quality evidence of reduction is plaque and gingival bleeding.

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The cost of persuasive design: digital media use and ADHD

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Elvira Perez Vallejos and David Daley consider the findings of a recent cohort study in JAMA that looks into the association between digital media use and subsequent symptoms of ADHD in adolescents.

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Orthodontic patients: Reminders improved oral hygiene and compliance

Recent research has shown how behavioural activation can be delivered via smartphones.

14 RCTs were included in this review of the effect of different reminders on oral hygiene and compliance in orthodontic patients. For most outcomes measured beneficial effects were seen in the patients receiving reminders.

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Can your mobile help you manage your anxiety?

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Andres Fonseca reviews a recent meta-analysis that explores whether smartphone mental health interventions can reduce the symptoms of anxiety.

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Parotid gland tumours and mobile phone use?

The study used data from a previous telephone survey, which focused on depression, concussion and brain injury, amongst other things

This review of parotid gland tumours and mobile phone use included 3 case-controlled studies and hints at a possible association. However the limited evidence means that the findings should be viewed very cautiously.

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Mental health provider views about digital technologies in day-to-day practice

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Victoria Betton considers the findings of a recent North American mixed methods study of mental health providers’ interest in using digital technologies in their day-to-day practice.

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Text messaging may improve oral health knowledge, attitudes and practices

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The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of delivery oral health messages by text messages and pamphlets to mothers of pre-school children. The study was conducted in India and restricted to mothers with mobile phones who could speak English. Mothers were randomised to received 3 text messages per day ( text message [read the full story…]