Effectiveness of a short web-based film targeting parental knowledge and behavior with respect to the oral health of children (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Children necessarily rely on their parents with respect to oral health routines but parental behavior in this area is not always adequate. Web-based interventions are a promising way of improving parental behavior in the area of oral health. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effectiveness of a web-based film about oral health, oral hygiene and dental care targeting parental knowledge and behavior with respect to oral health, directly after exposure and six months later. METHODS We performed a non-blinded quasi-experimental study of the effects of a 8.5 minute web-based film in Dutch, English, Turkish and Moroccan/Berber about the oral health of children. Parents attending well-child clinics in mixed urban and rural areas in the Netherlands were assigned to an intervention (n=88) or control group (n=41). The control group received care as usual. We measured parental knowledge and behavior with respect to oral health before and directly after the intervention and six months later, and assessed differences between the intervention and the control group. RESULTS Parental knowledge about oral health improved: the mean knowledge score was 93% correct after watching the film in the intervention group by comparison with 59% correct in the control group, Cohen’s d=2.64, and it was still better in the intervention group six months after watching the film. Oral health behavior did not differ between the intervention group and the control group after the intervention. CONCLUSIONS A web-based educational film for parents is an effective way to address specific health topics like oral health and to improve parental knowledge.