Brief Report: Remotely Delivered Video Modeling for Improving Oral Hygiene in Children with ASD: A Pilot Study

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Dentistry
• Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
• Digital Health Interventions

Background:

• Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) face a higher risk of oral health issues.
• Effective interventions for improving oral hygiene in children with ASD are crucial.
• At-home oral hygiene habit interventions show promise for this population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a 3-week internet-based video-modeling intervention for improving oral hygiene in children with autism.
• To compare the oral hygiene outcomes between an intervention group and a control group.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 18 children diagnosed with autism.
• Participants were assigned to either an intervention (video modeling) or control group.
• Oral hygiene was assessed using plaque index ratings at baseline, midpoint, and endpoint.

Main Results:

• Both groups demonstrated improvements in oral hygiene.
• The intervention group exhibited larger effect sizes, indicating greater improvement.
• Preliminary findings suggest positive outcomes from the video-modeling approach.

Conclusions:

• Internet-based video-modeling interventions can be effective in improving oral hygiene for children with autism.
• This approach offers a scalable method for enhancing dental care practices in children with ASD.
• Further research is warranted to confirm these preliminary findings.