Improving Toothbrushing with a Smartphone App: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial

Objectives: Performing proper toothbrushing is a complicated process for children. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a smartphone app for improving manual toothbrushing via a gravitation sensor. Methods: In this prospective, controlled, single-blinded, randomized clinical trial, 49 children (mean age 5.1 ± 0.6 years, 27 female) were randomly assigned to test (n = 26) and control (n = 23) groups. All children were provided with manual toothbrushes with an integrated gravitation sensor and they received oral health instructions. Only the children of the test group got an additional smartphone app to visualize and reward proper brushing in form and time. At baseline and recalls after 6 and 12 weeks, plaque and gingival indices (QHI, PBI) were recorded for analysis between the two groups. Results: At baseline, there were no significant differences between the test and control group regarding plaque and gingival indices (QHI: 2.36 ± 0.7 and 2.42 ± 0.8; p = 0.94; PBI: 0.42 ± 0.2 and 0.47 ± 0.3; p = 0.59). At the 6- and 12-week recalls, the test group showed statistically significantly better oral health indices than the controls (6-week recall, QHI: 0.8 ±0.5 and 1.88 ± 0.9; p < 0.001; PBI: 0.08 ± 0.1 and 0.26 ± 0.2; p < 0.001; 12-week recall, QHI: 0.44 ± 0.5 and 1.49 ± 0.7; p < 0.001; PBI: 0.05 ± 0.18 and 0.21 ± 0.1; p < 0.001). Conclusion: The results highlight the enormous possibilities of a toothbrushing application via the smartphone, at least for medium-term oral hygiene improvement in preschool children and even after excluding the app. The long-term effect should also be investigated to exclude the expected novelty effect.

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Probiotics Do Not Alter the Long-Term Stability of the Supragingival Microbiota in Healthy Subjects: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Pathogens ◽

10.3390/pathogens10040391 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (4) ◽

pp. 391

Author(s):

Christine Lundtorp-Olsen ◽

Christian Enevold ◽

Svante Twetman ◽

Daniel Belstrøm

Keyword(s):

Oral Health ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Test Group ◽

External Perturbation ◽

Controlled Clinical Trial ◽

Healthy Individuals ◽

Compositional Stability ◽

Rdna Sequencing ◽

Double Blinded

Background: The purpose of the present study was to longitudinally characterize the supragingival microbiota throughout a three months period in orally healthy individuals. We tested the hypothesis that the supragingival microbiota shows a high degree of compositional stability, which is resilient against the external perturbation of regular use of probiotics, as long as oral health is maintained. Methods: The present study was a double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. The study population comprised a total of 110 oral and systemic healthy individuals, distributed in a probiotic (n = 55) and placebo (n = 55) group, where the test group consumed tablets with the probiotic strains Lacticaseibacillusrhamnosus (formerly Lactobacillus) PB01 DSM14870 and Latilactobacillus curvatus (formerly Lactobacillus) EB10 DSM32307 for a period of 12 weeks. Supragingival plaque samples and clinical registrations were performed at baseline, and after 4, 8, and 12 weeks, respectively. The supragingival microbiota was characterized by means of 16S rDNA sequencing. Sequences were referenced against the HOMD database. Results: No significant changes of the core microbiota, as expressed by relative abundance of predominant genera and species were evident during the three months observation period in the probiotic or the placebo group. Conclusions: Data from the present study clearly demonstrate long term compositional stability of the supragingival microbiota as long as oral health is maintained. In addition, the tested probiotics had no augmenting effect on the supragingival microbiota in oral health.

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Effectiveness of a family-centered behavioral and educational counselling approach to improve periodontal health of pregnant women: a randomized controlled trial

BMC Oral Health ◽

10.1186/s12903-020-01265-6 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Pei Liu ◽

Weiye Wen ◽

Ka Fung Yu ◽

Xiaoli Gao ◽

Edward Chin Man Lo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oral Health ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Oral Hygiene ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Test Group ◽

Control Group ◽

Oral Health Promotion ◽

Periodontal Health ◽

The Mean ◽

Family Centered

Abstract Background Poor oral hygiene and high hormone levels during pregnancy can lead to a deterioration in periodontal health. This study assessed the effectiveness of a family-centered behavioral and educational counselling program on improving the periodontal health of women during pregnancy and postpartum. Methods A randomized controlled trial was conducted among pregnant women (10th-22nd gestational week) and their husbands. Participating families were randomized into test and control groups. Intervention in the test group included explanation of oral health education (OHE) pamphlets, oral hygiene instruction, individualized feedback, and proposed solutions to overcome barriers in self-care. Reinforcements were implemented in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy and six months postpartum. In the control group, only OHE pamphlets were distributed. The assessed outcomes were bleeding on probing (BOP), periodontal pocket (Poc), loss of clinical attachment (LoA), and Visible Plaque Index (VPI). The data collection was carried out at baseline (T0), in the 32nd gestational week (T1), and 12 months postpartum (T2). Results Altogether 589 pregnant women were recruited, and 369 attended all three visits (test:188; control:181). In the test group, the mean VPI score at T0 was 0.19, which decreased to 0.14 at T1 and 0.15 at T2. In the control group, the mean VPI decreased from 0.19 at T0 to 0.16 at T1, but increased to 0.22 at T2. A main effect of time and intervention and an interaction between time and intervention were detected (all p < 0.05), indicating that the intervention effect differed between T1 and T2. The test group showed a significantly greater decrease over time than the control group did. Similarly, the mean BOP% decreased more significantly over time in the test group (T0:57%, T1:46%, T2:35%) than in the control group (T0:58%, T1:52%, T2:46%). For Poc and LoA, there were improvements in both study groups at 12 months postpartum, compared with during pregnancy (p < 0.001). Conclusions Providing family-centered, behavioral, and educational counselling to pregnant women at an early stage of pregnancy and with reinforcements can improve their oral hygiene and reduce gingival inflammation. The effect can be sustained over an extended period and is greater than that of distributing oral health leaflets alone. Trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov, #NCT02937194. Registered 18 October 2016. Retrospectively registered, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02937194?cond=Family-centered+oral+health+promotion+for+new+parents+and+their+infants&draw=2&rank=1

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Efficacy of a herbal toothpaste on patients with established gingivitis: a randomized controlled trial

Brazilian Oral Research ◽

10.1590/s1806-83242006000200015 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 20 (2) ◽

pp. 172-177 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

Fabiana Ozaki ◽

Claudio Mendes Pannuti ◽

Ana Vitória Imbronito ◽

Wellington Pessotti ◽

Luciana Saraiva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Adverse Reactions ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Test Group ◽

Experimental Period ◽

Positive Control ◽

Control Group ◽

Control Groups ◽

Double Blind ◽

Significant Difference ◽

And Control

The aim of this randomised, double blind controlled trial was to verify the efficacy of a herbal dentifrice on the reduction of plaque and gingivitis. Forty eight volunteers with established gingivitis were randomly assigned to either a test group (herbal dentifrice) or positive control group (dentifrice with triclosan and fluoride). The dentifrices were distributed in plain white tubes by an independent pharmacy, which revealed the contents of each tube only after the experimental period. Plaque and gingivitis assessments were carried out on baseline and after 28 days of product use. All examinations were conducted by the same calibrated investigator. Subjects were instructed to brush their teeth three times daily using their assigned dentifrice for 28 days. There was a significant reduction in plaque levels in both the test and control groups. However, there was no significant difference between the groups. A significant reduction in gingivitis was observed in both groups, although there was no significant difference between them. No adverse reactions were reported. The authors concluded that both dentifrices were effective in reducing plaque and gingivitis in subjects with established gingivitis.

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Staphylococcal sepsis in mothers and newborn babies

Journal of Hygiene ◽

10.1017/s0022172400039358 ◽

1962 ◽

Vol 60 (1) ◽

pp. 105-112 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

M. S. Spink

Keyword(s):

Nasal Mucosa ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Bacterial Flora ◽

Phage Type ◽

Test Group ◽

Cross Infection ◽

Control Group ◽

Control Groups ◽

Peak Period ◽

And Control

A serious outbreak of staphylococcal infections in the maternity units in Blackburn was investigated. There were considerably more than one hundred cases of breast abscesses altogether, well over half of which occurred in primiparae. Staphylococcus aureus, phage type 80, was the predominating organism throughout the outbreak and at the peak period during the early part of the outbreak this type was responsible for nearly 80% of the infections.After the introduction of a number of procedures for the general reduction of cross-infection the incidence of breast abscess fell markedly and a controlled trial of an antibacterial cream, containing neomycin and hibitane, which was applied to the nasal mucosa of all infants and mothers in the test group of patients, was undertaken. The conditions obtaining in the test and control groups were identical in every way except that the control patients did not receive the neomycin-hibitane cream. There were about 1250 mothers and infants each in the test and control groups; the incidence of breast abscesses in the test group was 0·8% and in the control group it was 2·7%. The method adopted for the detection and treatment of carriers among the nursing staff broke down on two occasions; this fact and the emergence of an unforeseen source resulted in a larger number of infections than should have occurred. Had it not been for these incidents there is little doubt that the trial would have shown more conclusively the effectiveness of the neomycinhibitane cream, by the method laid down, in reducing cross-infection.Investigation of the bacterial flora on the nasal mucosa of over 1000 infants in the control group yielded results of considerable interest. Of 300 cases where there was early colonization by Staph. albus, this organism established its dominating position in 70% of the cases and it was not subsequently displaced by Staph. aureus. The significance of this observation and the evidence favouring nasal dissemination of Staph.aureus as the most important cause of hospital cross-infection are discussed.

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Efficacy of Qurs-e-Gulnar in Ziabetus (type 2 Diabetes Mellitus): a single blind randomized controlled trial

Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine ◽

10.1515/jcim-2020-0072 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 0 (0) ◽

Author(s):

Khalid Eqbal ◽

Md. Anzar Alam ◽

Mohd Aleemuddin Quamri ◽

Ghulamuddin Sofi ◽

Muzafar Din Ahmad Bhat

Keyword(s):

Diabetes Mellitus ◽

Type 2 Diabetes ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Test Group ◽

Control Group ◽

Test Compound ◽

Exact Test ◽

And Control ◽

Single Blind

AbstractBackground and objectivesDiabetes is a serious threat to global health that respects neither socioeconomic status nor national boundaries. Globally, diabetes is among the top 10 causes of death. Unani system argued the effectiveness of several anti-hyperglycemic drugs, and all such drugs looked-for to be validated on scientifically. Hence a clinical trial was contemplated to evaluate the clinical efficacy of Qurs-e-Gulnar in the management of Diabetes Mellitus.MethodsThis study was conducted as single blind randomized control, on 40 patients of type 2 diabetes with the test (n=20) and control (n=20) groups for 45 days. Test group received Qurs-e-Gulnar at the dose of three Qurs twice a day, and control group received two capsules Diabeat® twice a day before meal. Subjective (at 0, 15th, 30th, and 45th) and objective parameters were assessed as pre-post treatment respectively.ResultsAfter treatment with test compound significant reduction was observed in all the subjective parameters viz. polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia and tiredness in comparison of control group. The objective parameters FBS and PPBS was found to be significantly reduced (p<0.001) in both the groups where as HbA1c was found unchanged in test group but control drug showed highly significant reduction in HbA1c (p<0.001).The results were assessed statistically using two tailed Student’s t-test, and Fischer exact test.ConclusionOn the basis of above observation it is concluded that the test compound Qurs-e-Gulnar has significant anti-diabetic effect which is evidentially observed both in subjective and objective parameters in test group in comparison of control group (CTRI/2017/07/009060).

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Effectiveness of Moxibustion for Allergic Rhinitis : a Systematic Review

10.21203/rs.3.rs-931342/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

kaiyun pang

Keyword(s):

Allergic Rhinitis ◽

Large Scale ◽

Clinical Symptoms ◽

Nasal Congestion ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Runny Nose ◽

Long Term Effect ◽

And Control

Abstract Objective: To explore the clinical efficacy of moxibustion to the treatment of allergic rhinitis. Methods: The randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of moxibustion to the treatment of AR was retrieved who search alone by two researchers in 31 August , 2021. The final 24 articles were retained by two other researchers based on inclusion criteria and exclusion criteria. Results: Moxibustion is effective in the treatment of AR among which heat-sensitive moxibustion has the most significant effect (P<0.00001) , followed by governor vessel moxibustion(P<0.0008), again is thunder fire moxibustion(P=0.003), the worst effect was herb-partitioned moxibustion(P=0.70). In the symptom subgroup comparison, moxibustion is effective in controlling sneezing(P=0.03) and runny nose(P=0.05), and the best is heat-sensitive moxibustion(P<0.00001) whether it is sneezing, nasal congestion, runny nose and nasal itching is the best. In the follow-up subgroup analysis, the efficacy of the follow-up of 3 months and 1 month was the same (P<0.00001) that the long-term efficacy of moxibustion for AR was better. In the IgE subgroup, moxibustion in the treatment of AR can make serum IgE down both after treatment(P<0.00001) and 6 months(P<0.0001). Conclusion: Moxibustion treatment of AR can not only improve the clinical symptoms of patients and control the attack, but also has a good long-term effect to prevent recurrence. Moxibustion treatment of AR heat-sensitive moxibustion effect is the best. Due to the limitations of this study, large-scale clinical high-quality randomized, a multi-center, controlled trial clinical study is needed in order to further verify our conclusions.

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Is post-trabeculectomy serous choroidal detachment a risk factor for failure in the long term

European Journal of Ophthalmology ◽

10.1177/1120672120972626 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 112067212097262

Author(s):

Maryam Yadgari ◽

Kiana Hassanpour ◽

Nader Nassiri

Keyword(s):

Glaucoma Surgery ◽

Cumulative Probability ◽

Control Group ◽

Case Group ◽

Choroidal Detachment ◽

Surgical Success ◽

Long Term Effect ◽

Advanced Glaucoma ◽

And Control

Background: To investigate the long-term effect of serous choroidal detachment on the success of trabeculectomy in glaucoma patients. Methods: In this case-control study, 17 patients who underwent trabeculectomy and developed choroidal detachment, and completed at least 3 years of follow-up were included. The controls were matched based on age, sex, preoperative intraocular pressure, and glaucoma type, and lack of choroidal detachment. Surgical success was defined based on two definitions of 5 < IOP < 16 and 20% reduction from the baseline and no need for further glaucoma surgery and all the same but 5 < IOP < 22. Results: The mean estimated duration of survival ±SD was 2.73 ± 0.35 years (CI 95% 2.1, 3.4), which was significantly shorter than 3.98 ± 0.38 years (CI 95% 3.3, 4.7) in the control group. (LogRank = 5.03 p = 0.02). Cumulative probability of success was 76.5%, 52.9%, 29.4%, 17.6%, and 11.8% in year 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 in the case group, respectively. Corresponding values were 88.2%, 82.4%, 68.6%, 58.8%, and 47.1%. In the control group, respectively. At baseline, average IOP was 22.3 ± 2.7 and 23.8 ± 8.3 mmHg in the case and control groups, respectively ( p = 0.17). Mean IOP was significantly higher in the case group than in the control group in years 2, 3, 4, and 5. Conclusion: Serous choroidal detachment affects the long-term surgical success of trabeculectomy, especially in patients with advanced glaucoma when lower target pressure is required.

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A Smoking Prevention Program Delivered by Medical Students to Secondary Schools in Brazil Called “Education Against Tobacco”: Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.12854 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Oscar Campos Lisboa ◽

Breno Bernardes-Souza ◽

Luiz Eduardo De Freitas Xavier ◽

Matheus Rocha Almeida ◽

Paulo César Rodrigues Pinto Corrêa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Smoking Prevalence ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Smoking Prevention ◽

Control Group ◽

Classroom Setting ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

School Based ◽

And Control

BACKGROUND Smoking is the largest preventable cause of mortality in Brazil. Education Against Tobacco (EAT) is a network of more than 3500 medical students and physicians across 14 countries who volunteer for school-based smoking prevention programs. EAT educates 50,000 adolescents per year in the classroom setting. A recent quasi-experimental study conducted in Germany showed that EAT had significant short-term smoking cessation effects among adolescents aged 11 to 15 years. OBJECTIVE The aim is to measure the long-term effectiveness of the most recent version of the EAT curriculum in Brazil. METHODS A randomized controlled trial was conducted among 2348 adolescents aged 12 to 21 years (grades 7-11) at public secondary schools in Brazil. The prospective experimental design included measurements at baseline and at 6 and 12 months postintervention. The study groups comprised randomized classes receiving the standardized EAT intervention (90 minutes of mentoring in a classroom setting) and control classes in the same schools (no intervention). Data were collected on smoking status, gender, social aspects, and predictors of smoking. The primary endpoint was the difference in the change in smoking prevalence between the intervention group and the control group at 12-month follow-up. RESULTS From baseline to 12 months, the smoking prevalence increased from 11.0% to 20.9% in the control group and from 14.1% to 15.6% in the intervention group. This difference was statistically significant (P<.01). The effects were smaller for females (control 12.4% to 18.8% vs intervention 13.1% to 14.6%) than for males (control 9.1% to 23.6% vs intervention 15.3% to 16.8%). Increased quitting rates and prevented onset were responsible for the intervention effects. The differences in change in smoking prevalence from baseline to 12 months between the intervention and control groups were increased in students with low school performance. CONCLUSIONS To our knowledge, this is the first randomized trial on school-based tobacco prevention in Brazil that shows significant long-term favorable effects. The EAT program encourages quitting and prevents smoking onset, especially among males and students with low educational background. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02725021; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02725021

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Satisfaction with health and oneself and the Unplugged program among Slovak Schoolchildren

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckz187.054 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽

Author(s):

O Orosova ◽

B Gajdosova ◽

J Benka

Keyword(s):

Self Efficacy ◽

Repeated Measures ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Control Group ◽

Significant Interaction Effect ◽

Level Of Satisfaction ◽

Long Term Effect ◽

Contrast Analysis ◽

Cluster Randomized

Abstract Background The investigation of protective factors and intervention effects on health are important issues of prospective studies. The aims of this study were to explore the changes in schoolchildren’s satisfaction with their health and themselves (SH) following their participation in the Unplugged program (PU). Methods This study was carried out as a cluster randomized controlled trial (1195 participating schoolchildren, Mean age=11.52; 47.4% boys) with data collection conducted immediately before PU implementationT1, immediately after the implementationT2 then 3 monthsT3, 12 monthsT4, and 18 months after the implementationT5. The schools were randomly assigned to either an experimental (EG, n = 540) or control group (CG, n = 655). EG was exposed to PU consisting of 12 lessons (http://www.eudap.net/). The effect of participating in PU, gender, and self-efficacy (SET1) were explored in relation to changes in SH in both EG and CG. GLM Repeated Measures were used for the data analyses. Results There was a significant main effect of time on SH, F(4, 1096)=6.685, p < 0.001. The contrast analysis revealed that SH was significantly lower at every follow-up when compared to SH at T1. There was a significant interaction effect SHxSE, F(4, 1096)=2.868, p < 0.05. The contrast analysis revealed that SH was significantly lower at T2 than at T1 among the schoolchildren with a lower level of SE. Finally, the SHxSExPU interaction was significant F(4, 1096)=2.779, p < 0.05 and the contrast analysis revealed that SH was significantly higher at T5 than at T1 among those participants of PU with a higher level of SE. Conclusions The findings generally suggest that while there was a decrease of SH among schoolchildren between T1 and T5 a long-term effectT5 of PU was found among the program participants with higher levels of SE who were able to maintain higher level of SH. Key messages Schoolchildren’s satisfaction with their health and themselves was found to generally decrease in time during the 22 months when Unplugged was implemented and evaluated. A long-term effect of Unplugged was detected among program participants with higher levels of self-efficacy who were able to maintain higher level of satisfaction with their health and themselves.

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A Mobile Phone–Based Self-Monitoring Tool for Perioperative Gastric Cancer Patients With Incentive Spirometer: Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.12204 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Ji Yeong Soh ◽

Se Uk Lee ◽

Inpyo Lee ◽

Ki Sang Yoon ◽

Changho Song ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Controlled Trial ◽

Test Group ◽

Tertiary Hospital ◽

Control Group ◽

Main Function ◽

Deep Breathing ◽

System Usability Scale ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Gastric Cancer Patients ◽

And Control

BACKGROUND An incentive spirometer (IS) is a medical device used to help patients improve the functioning of their lungs. It is provided to patients who have had any surgery that might jeopardize respiratory function. An incentive spirometer plays a key role in the prevention of postoperative complications, and the appropriate use of an IS is especially well known for the prevention of respiratory complications. However, IS utilization depends on the patient’s engagement, and information and communication technology (ICT) can help in this area. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to determine the effect of mobile ICT on the usage of an IS (Go-breath) app by postoperative patients after general anesthesia. METHODS For this study, we recruited patients from April to May 2018, who used the Go-breath app at a single tertiary hospital in South Korea. The patients were randomly classified into either a test or control group. The main function of the Go-breath app was to allow for self-reporting and frequency monitoring of IS use, deep breathing, and active coughing in real time. The Go-breath app was identical for both the test and control groups, except for the presence of the alarm function. The test group heard an alarm every 60 min from 9 am to 9 pm for 2 days. For the test group alone, a dashboard was established in the nurse’s station through which a nurse could rapidly assess the performance of multiple patients. To evaluate the number of performances per group, we constructed an incentive spirometer index (ISI). RESULTS A total of 44 patients were recruited, and 42 of them completed the study protocol. ISI in the test group was 20.2 points higher than that in the control group (113.5 points in the test group and 93.2 points in the control group, P=.22). The system usability scale generally showed almost the same score in the 2 groups (79.3 points in the test group and 79.4 points in the control group, P=.94). We observed that the performance rates of IS count, active coughing, and deep breathing were also higher in the test group but with no statistically significant difference between the groups. For the usefulness “yes or no” question, over 90% (38/42) of patients answered “yes” and wanted more functional options and information. CONCLUSIONS The use of the Go-breath app resulted in considerable differences between the test group and control group but with no statistically significant differences. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03569332; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03569332 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/74ihKmQIX).

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