The efficacy of using animated videos as an educational tool about root canal treatment

ISRCTN ISRCTN18413241
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN18413241
Secondary identifying numbers HAPO-02-K-012
Submission date
09/05/2023
Registration date
15/05/2023
Last edited
30/07/2024
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Oral Health
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English Summary

Background and study aims
Most patients are unaware of the root canal treatment process; they fear it because they think or hear it is unpleasant. This ignorance may influence the patient's decision hence trying to avoid the treatment. Written pamphlets, films, face-to-face counselling, and web-based apps are all examples of educational tools that may be used to provide health information. The use of video as a teaching tool has several potential benefits. It can be less expensive, eliminate educator discrepancies, be delivered in various formats and reach a large audience via social media. However, it is unknown what is the best educational tool to use for increasing population awareness about root canal treatment. For this reason, a randomized controlled trial study aims to evaluate the patients' knowledge and awareness of endodontic therapy. As well as their worries and expectations by comparing two delivery methods: educational animation and leaflets.

Who can participate?
Adult patients recruited from Umm Al-Qura University (UQU) who can speak and read Arabic, live in Saudi Arabia, know how to use Whatsapp and approve to participate in the trial and did sign the consent form.

What does the study involve?
The participants’ knowledge was assessed at the baseline then they were randomized into a study group (SG) and a control group (CG).
The SG received an educational animation followed by the assessment questionnaire, which evaluated the knowledge, attitude, perception, experience and challenges toward the endodontic treatment. The CG received a leaflet followed by the same assessment.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
The main benefit is to improve the patient’s knowledge about root canal treatment.
No risk

Where is the study run from?
Umm Al-Qura University (UQU), Faculty of Dentistry, Makkah, Saudi Arabia, is where participants were recruited. After gaining their approval, an online questionnaire was sent via Whats app.

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
December 2021 to March 2023

Who is funding the study?
Investigator initiated and funded

Who is the main contact?
Dr Afnan Nassar, aanassar@uqu.edu.sa

Contact information

Dr Afnan Nassar
Scientific

Umm Al-Qura University
Makkah
24352
Saudi Arabia

ORCiD logoORCID ID 0000-0002-2723-3395
Phone +966 (0)506378234
Email aanassar@uqu.edu.sa

Study information

Study designSingle-blinded randomized controlled trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Community, Internet/virtual
Study typeOther
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use contact details to request participant information sheet.
Scientific titleThe effect of educational animation compared to leaflets on patient's knowledge and attitude regarding root canal treatment: a randomized control trial
Study hypothesisUsing educational animation improves patients' knowledge and awareness about root canal treatment compared to leaflets.
Ethics approval(s)Approved 04/01/2022, 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
ConditionKnowledge about root canal treatment in dental patients
InterventionStudy group (SG):
In this group, the participants were selected from UQU Dental Clinics. They were contacted via WhatsApp (a social media platform) and given a demonstration video on how the dentist performs endodontic treatment and the benefits of this procedure. WhatsApp was used because of the end-to-end encryption, so it is highly secure and preserves patient confidentiality. Participants received a self-reported questionnaire to assess their knowledge, attitude, perception and challenges toward endodontic treatment and impression from the educational animation experience.

Control group (CG):
This group received the same information, except it was delivered in a leaflet.

Evaluation at different periods: (T1) before the intervention, (T2) immediately after the intervention and (T3) one month after the intervention, using a questionnaire.

Randomisation: Computer software was used (https://www.randomizer.org). Two Sets of 66 unique numbers per set ranging from 1 to 133 were generated.
Intervention typeBehavioural
Primary outcome measureEvaluation at different periods: (T1) before the intervention, (T2) immediately after the intervention and (T3) one month after the intervention, using a questionnaire.
The questionnaire is composed of three sections.
Section one contains questions about demographic variables: including gender, educational level, age, occupation, and nationality.
Section two assessed the participant's knowledge of root canal treatment (RCT) and his previous experience with RCT.
The third section determined the participant's attitudes toward RCT.
Secondary outcome measuresThere is no secondary outcome measure.
Overall study start date02/12/2021
Overall study end date23/03/2023

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Other
Age groupAdult
Lower age limit18 Years
SexBoth
Target number of participants133
Total final enrolment70
Participant inclusion criteria1. Adult (18 years and older).
2. Arabic speakers living in Saudi Arabia.
3. Able to read and use WhatsApp social media platform.
Participant exclusion criteria1. Did not complete the three questionnaires.
2. Did not approve to participate in the trial and did not sign the consent form.
Recruitment start date04/01/2022
Recruitment end date01/12/2022

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • Saudi Arabia

Study participating centre

Online
Umm Al-Qura University
Makkah
24382
Saudi Arabia

Sponsor information

Umm al-Qura University
University/education

Al Abdeyah
Makkah al Mukarramah
21955
Saudi Arabia

Phone +966 125501000
Email dentistry@uqu.edu.sa
Website https://uqu.edu.sa/english
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/01xjqrm90

Funders

Funder type

Other

Investigator initiated and funded

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date26/08/2023
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareYes
IPD sharing plan summaryAvailable on request
Publication and dissemination planPlanned publication in a high-impact peer-reviewed journal
IPD sharing planThe datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
Dr. Afnan Nassar, Umm Al-Qura University, Faculty of Dentistry, Saudi Arabia.
SPSS file (unidentified).
The data will be available upon request for two years.
Data can be accessed by the journal to which we will submit our article, any Saudi Governmental authority and 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 29/07/2024 30/07/2024 Yes No

Editorial Notes

30/07/2024: Publication reference added.
15/05/2023: Trial's existence confirmed by Umm Al-Qura University Institutional Review Board.