The effect of a Snapchat based intervention on oral health knowledge among pregnant women in Saudi Arabia
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN13915540 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN13915540 |
| ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT) | Nil known |
| Clinical Trials Information System (CTIS) | Nil known |
| Protocol serial number | HAPO-02-K-012-2021-11-810 |
| Sponsor | Umm al-Qura University |
| Funder | investigator initiated and funded |
- Submission date
- 08/11/2021
- Registration date
- 10/11/2021
- Last edited
- 21/12/2023
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Other
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
Social media is defined as a collection of applications that use the internet to create technical and ideological foundations that permit generating and sharing contents. Public and patients tend to seek different health information from social media. However, there is spreading of fake health information on social media was cited as a major concern in literature. There is a growing interest in the use of social media and mobile health applications to improve pregnants’ well-being. One of the most famous social media platforms is Snapchat. Snapchat is usually used to make ‘selfies’ photo and videos between friend and family in a relaxed manner. However, in terms of dental health, many pregnant women tend to avoid attending dental clinics because they believe they would be harmed. For this reason, the aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of social media (snapchat) health promotional intervention on oral health pregnancy awareness among pregnant women in Saudi Arabia.
Who can participate?
Pregnant women living in Saudi Arabia who have access to Snapchat and Whatsapp
What does the study involve?
Participants will be randomly allocated to receive advice on oral health during pregnancy either via a series of Snapchat stories or via a written flyer on Whatsapp.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Expected benefits: Helping pregnant women to get useful information about oral and dental treatment and setting. As an incentive, the participants will also be entered into six separate random prize drawings for 50 Saudi Riyal (USD 13.33) in the form of local bookstore gift cards given only to participants who completed all the questionnaires.
Expected risks: Not applicable.
Where is the study run from?
Umm Al-Qura University (Saudi Arabia)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
November 2021 to November 2022
Who is funding the study?
Investigator initiated and funded
Who is the main contact?
Dr Khalid Aboalshamat, dr.khalid.sh@hotmail.com
Contact information
Scientific
Dental Public Health Division
Preventative Dentistry Department
College of Dentistry
Umm Al-Qura University
Makkah
24361-2828
Saudi Arabia
 ORCID ID |
0000-0001-5957-8681 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +966 543536468 |
| ktaboalshamat@uqu.edu.sa |
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Study design | Parallel-group single-blind randomized controlled trial |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Study type | Participant information sheet |
| Scientific title | The effect of a social media (Snapchat) intervention on the awareness of pregnancy oral health among pregnant women in Saudi Arabia: randomized controlled trial |
| Study objectives | There is a relationship between oral health promotion intervention by using Snapchat and knowledge of pregnant women |
| Ethics approval(s) | Approved, 03/11/2021, Umm Al-Qura University Institutional Review Board (Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, 24352, Saudi Arabia; +966 (0)125270000; irb.uqudent@uqu.edu.sa), ref: HAPO-02-K-012-2021-11-810. |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Knowledge about oral health during pregnancy |
| Intervention | Intervention group: Participants in the Snapchat group (SG) will receive information regarding oral health during pregnancy using the Snapchat mobile application. The oral health information was retrieved from previous studies, The content was validated by oral pathology and oral medicine consultants. The information includes general information about dental treatment among pregnant women, the most recommended time for dental treatment and emergencies, dental setting position, the recommendation for elective dental treatment, dental appointment, Root Canal Treatment (RCT) safety issues for pregnant women, radiographic precautions, local anesthesia, antibiotic usage, analgesics, pregnancy gingivitis and how to reduce periodontal problems. The intervention will be delivered throughout two weeks; each week will have two Snapchat stories (the story is a series of short videos, each 10 seconds, as permitted by the Snapchat application). Each story will be about 5 to 10 minutes. Participants can send their questions regarding the given material and a short recap of the questions will be in the following story. The stories will be presented as a diary of one of the research team members as most of the stories in Snapchat. The research team will perform roles within the clinic of the dental teaching hospital in Umm Al-Qura University, as dental chair setting, precaution during taking radiographs, showing the materials which are likely to be used during the dental treatment, and demonstration of dental flossing and toothbrushing. Through intervention days the participants will receive the contents spontaneously. Control group: The control group (CG) will receive the same information in a written flyer sent via WhatsApp. Randomization: The participants will be randomly assigned to either the SG or the CG by the research team. A simple randomization process will be used, using previously shuffled sealed envelopes with an equal allocation ratio placed in a bowl. Each participant will randomly choose an envelope, so that will give them an equal chance of being placed in one of the two groups. The sealed envelope will be opaque and sequentially numbered to ensure allocation concealment. |
| Intervention type | Other |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
Questionnaires, self-reported, are administered at T1 (before the intervention), T2 (immediately after the intervention), and T3 (after the intervention with one month): |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
There are no secondary outcome measures |
| Completion date | 15/11/2022 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Healthy volunteer |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Sex | Female |
| Target sample size at registration | 90 |
| Total final enrolment | 68 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Arabic speakers 2. Pregnant women in Saudi Arabia 3. Able to use Snapchat and WhatsApp social media platforms |
| Key exclusion criteria | Did not agree to sign the consent form |
| Date of first enrolment | 20/11/2021 |
| Date of final enrolment | 01/03/2022 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- Saudi Arabia
Study participating centre
Makkah
21955
Saudi Arabia
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | Yes |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Available on request |
| IPD sharing plan | The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request. Dr. Khalid Aboalshamat, Umm Al-Qura University, Faculty of Dentistry, Saudi Arabia. SPSS file (unidentified) The data will be available upon request for 2 years. Data can be accessed by the journal to which we will submit our article, any Saudi Governmental authority, researchers after careful consideration of their scientific intention to use. All data are anonymous with no identification |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results article | 16/02/2023 | 21/12/2023 | Yes | No | |
| Dataset | 26/08/2022 | No | No | ||
| Dataset | 16/02/2023 | 21/12/2023 | No | No | |
| Participant information sheet | Participant information sheet | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
| Protocol (other) | 16/02/2023 | 21/12/2023 | No | No | |
| Protocol file | 10/11/2021 | No | No |
Additional files
- 40642 Protocol.pdf
- Protocol file
- ISRCTN13915540_Raw data file.pdf
- Dataset
Editorial Notes
21/12/2023: Publication reference, dataset and protocol added.
26/08/2022: A dataset was uploaded as an additional file.
01/03/2022: The following changes have been made:
1. The recruitment end date has been changed from 20/02/2022 to 01/03/2022.
2. The total final enrolment number has been added.
02/02/2022: The recruitment end date has been changed from 20/01/2022 to 20/02/2022.
10/11/2021: Trial's existence confirmed by Umm Al-Qura University Institutional Review Board
