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Journal of Current Research in Oral Surgery

2022 Volume 2

Impact of an Innovative Teledentistry Mobile App on Oral Health Literacy among Visually Impaired and Deaf Adolescents: A 4-Week Randomized Controlled Trial


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  1. Department of Oral Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a mobile-based “teledentistry” approach, delivered through the Telesmile application, in improving awareness of oral health issues and hygiene behaviors among blind and deaf individuals residing in Jazan Province, Saudi Arabia. A controlled randomized parallel-group design was applied to 50 blind and 50 deaf students aged 12–18 years, selected at random from specialized schools according to predefined criteria. A novel teledentistry tool, Telesmile, compatible with both the Apple iOS App Store and Google Play Store, was created for this purpose. For the deaf category, customized Arabic sign language oral hygiene videos were produced and uploaded; for the blind category, experts recorded audio-based instructions, which were then incorporated into the app. Blind (n = 25) and deaf (n = 25) participants in Group I were provided standard oral hygiene guidance, whereas Group II (blind n = 25; deaf n = 25) received the Telesmile intervention. Knowledge related to oral health and hygiene was assessed using a 14-item closed-answer questionnaire at baseline (T0). All participants attended training sessions, and Group II received access to the Telesmile application. Four weeks later (T1), the same questionnaire was administered again to compare changes in knowledge across groups. Analysis using the chi-square test showed that baseline (T0) knowledge scores for both blind and deaf students were extremely low, but demonstrated a marked and statistically significant increase after 4 weeks of exposure to the Telesmile tool (p < 0.001).The Telesmile platform substantially improved oral hygiene knowledge among visually and hearing-impaired individuals. Audio-based instruction proved particularly useful for blind participants, while video demonstrations effectively enhanced understanding among deaf users.


How to cite this article
Vancouver
Conti AF, Meyer LP, Bekele TM. Impact of an Innovative Teledentistry Mobile App on Oral Health Literacy among Visually Impaired and Deaf Adolescents: A 4-Week Randomized Controlled Trial. J Curr Res Oral Surg. 2022;2:41-51. https://doi.org/10.51847/1szwYLKOkM
APA
Conti, A. F., Meyer, L. P., & Bekele, T. M. (2022). Impact of an Innovative Teledentistry Mobile App on Oral Health Literacy among Visually Impaired and Deaf Adolescents: A 4-Week Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of Current Research in Oral Surgery, 2, 41-51. https://doi.org/10.51847/1szwYLKOkM

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