Oral Health Education and Message Framing Effect on Oral Health Status of Refugees in Egypt

Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18+
SponsorAlexandria University

About this trial

Refugees, facing forced displacement and often exposed to traumatic experiences, represent a vulnerable population with unique healthcare needs. Oral health is considered a prominent factor that contributes to quality of life.

Therefore, this study aim at assessing the effect of message framing on enhancing oral health practices in a group of refugees in Alexandria, Egypt. A three-arm cluster randomized controlled clinical trial will compare a gain-framed mobile text messages group, a loss-framed mobile text messages group, and a control group. The primary outcome is the improvement in oral health practices measured by changes in dental plaque and secondary outcome is to assess change in oral health-related quality of life. In addition, oral health knowledge, attitudes, and practices of refugees will be assessed.

Eligibility criteria

This trial does not accept healthy volunteers

Qualifiers

Refugees older than 18 years old.

From Arabic speaking countries.

Has been resident in Alexandria, Egypt for at least 6 months.

Having mobile phones to receive text messages.

Disqualifiers

Planning to move away during 1 year study period.

Participating in any kind of oral health education and promotion programs.

Trial design

Design model

Parallel

Treatments tested in this trial

  • Gain and loss framed mobile text messages

    Behavioral

    To assess the effect of message framing on enhancing oral health practices in a group of refugees

Treatment groups

510 Participants
are divided into 3 treatment groups
Group A: Gain-framed messagesExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Group B: Loss-framed messageExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Group C: Control groupNo intervention 0 interventions

Trial outcomes

Primary outcomes

1

Oral health knowledge improvement

To assess change in level of oral health knowledge before and after program using a validated questionnaire

Time frame
Immediately after structured oral health session, 6 months and 1 year after baseline
2

Oral health practices improvement

Assess toothbrushing and flossing frequency before and after the education session and reminder mobile messages

Time frame
6 months and 1 year after baseline
3

Oral hygiene status assesment

measure the change in plaque index scores among participants

Time frame
6 months and 1 year after baseline
4

Gingival health assessment

measure the change in gingival index scores among participants

Time frame
6 months and 1 year after baseline

Secondary outcomes

Other outcomes

Sponsors and contacts

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