Evaluation of a Parent Multimedia and Mobile-Based Intervention to Promote Pediatric Oral Health (BeReadyToSmile):...

The universal adoption of mobile technologies by households has created an opportunity to provide families with young children with access to high-quality oral health information at convenient times and locations. Using community agencies (eg, Head Start and public health programs) that offer parenting education is an effective approach to reaching families in low-income households.

This study aimed to explore the extent to which a coordinated, in-person oral health prevention intervention, together with an accompanying smartphone app, BeReadyToSmile, is feasible to implement among caregivers of young children.

The BeReadyToSmile program targeted parents of children aged 0 to 6 years attending parenting education classes. This study was designed as a single-group pre-post feasibility study that included quantitative surveys and open-ended feedback. A total of 30 parents attended an in-person session on child oral health and were invited to use the BeReadyToSmile smartphone app. Preintervention and postintervention surveys were administered to assess pediatric oral health knowledge, attitudes toward child toothbrushing, brushing intention, brushing efficacy, program satisfaction, and ease of use.

Significant effects were observed on parent-reported pediatric oral health knowledge, attitudes toward brushing, brushing intention, and toothbrushing efficacy. Out of the 30 parents invited to use the BeReadyToSmile app, 1 (3%) completed no sessions and 20 (67%) completed all sessions. Participants rated the app highly on measures of satisfaction and use. We found significant increases in pediatric oral health knowledge (P=.004), child brushing attitudes and intention (P=.01), and parental efficacy regarding child toothbrushing (P=.03).

Caregivers reported positive experiences with the implementation of BeReadyToSmile, indicating the overall feasibility of delivering oral health prevention to households with young children both in person and through a facilitated smartphone app. Further studies should include a larger and more diverse sample, randomized comparison conditions, and a longer follow-up period to assess outcomes.