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A Tele-detection and Referral Pathways Model for Early Childhood Caries Control

Not Applicable
Recruiting
Conditions
Early Childhood Caries
Registration Number
NCT06019884
Lead Sponsor
University of Alexandria
Brief Summary

The aim of the study is to assess the effectiveness of ECC tele-detection methods combined with referral pathways, with and without user fee removal, in controlling ECC.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
480
Inclusion Criteria
  • Age <6 years old with primary dentition only.
  • Written consent from the legal guardian
Exclusion Criteria
  • Children above 6 years old.
  • Children with mixed or permanent dentitions.
  • Children with physical disabilities or psychiatric disorders.
  • Children with intellectual disabilities.
  • Children indicated for dental treatment under general anesthesia

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
FACTORIAL
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
The percentage of teeth receiving careup to 12 months

This will be assessed using the Caries Assessment Spectrum and Treatment (CAST) index. The CAST index hierarchically describes the full spectrum of caries from the absence of caries, passing through prevention (sealants) and treatment (restoration), to the presence of carious lesions with their complications (pulp exposure, abscess/fistula, and tooth loss). As for the condition severity, Codes 0-2 represent "healthy", 3 indicates "pre-morbidity", while 4-5 indicate "morbidity", 6-7 indicate "serious morbidity", and 8 indicates "mortality".

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
The child's behavior during dental photographythroughout the procedure completion

This will be assessed through direct observation of the patients and will be assessed on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from "not at all" to "extremely". Higher scores on the positive items indicate favorable behavior

Oral health-related quality of lifeup to 12 months

This will be assessedusing the Arabic Version of Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS).The scale comprises 13 items included in two main sections: the Child Impact Section (9 items) and the Family Impact Section (4 items). The Child Impact Section has four domains: child symptom (one item), child function (four items), child psychology (two items) and child self-image and social interaction (two items). The Family Impact Scale has two domains: Parental distress (two items) and Family function (two items). The response options are coded: 0 = never; 1 = hardly ever; 2 = occasionally; 3 = often; 4 = very often. ECOHIS scores are calculated by summing the response codes for the child and family sections separately. The values range from 0 to 52 for the total scale (0-36 for the child section and 0-16 for the family section). The highest score expressed a greater impact of the state of oral health indicating worse quality of life.

Procedure timethroughout the procedure completion

The time needed for intra-oral scanning and assessing the CAST codes will be recorded per patient, and the average time will be calculated and compared between the two methods.

The child's mood during dental photographythroughout the procedure completion

This will be assessed based on the modified "Positive and Negative Affect Schedule" (PANAS) scale through direct observation of the patients and will be assessed on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from "not at all" to "extremely". Higher scores on the positive outcomes indicate a better mood, while lower scores on the negative items indicate a worse mood.

Percentage of preventive visits completed per childup to 12 months

The number of preventive visits that are attended per child will be assessed.

Rate of treatment completionup to 12 months

Treatment completion rate will be assessed by monitoring the procedures received out of all procedures the child was indicated to receive.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Faculty of Dentistry, Alexandria University

🇪🇬

Alexandria, Egypt

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