Use of an educational video with mobile technology for the informed consent process: A randomised controlled trial on patients undergoing surgery for an impacted lower third molar.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether audiovisual presentation of consent information would significantly improve patients' postoperative recall of risks and complications regarding surgical removal of impacted lower third molars compared to the presentation of traditional written consent information. A randomised controlled study on 59 patients undergoing third molar removal was conducted. Patients in the intervention group (n = 30) viewed an educational video on risks and complications related to surgery using mobile tablets. Control-group patients (n = 29) received written information of the risks and complications. Patients' postoperative recall of potential risks for dysesthesia of the lower lip and tongue, infection, and bleeding along with surgical complications of facial oedema, trismus, and pain were assessed using true-false tests. The effect of audiovisual information on postoperative recall of the risks and complications was determined by comparing accuracy scores between the intervention group and control group using the independent t-test. The intervention group was found to have significantly better recall scores of the potential risks and complications, due to much higher accuracy in their recall of bleeding and dysesthesia of the lower lip and/or tongue, compared to the control group [mean (SD) 4.70 (0.94) vs 3.76 (1.50), p = 0.003]. The use of an educational video played on mobile tablets rather than a written pamphlet may lead to better understanding of the informed consent process in patients.

Evaluation of dental hygiene learning outcomes through smartphone-based educational slides targeting dental hygienists: A pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: Education reflecting fundamental knowledge is required for competent health care providers, but often lectures are not available for this purpose. This study aimed to evaluate the dental hygiene learning outcomes following the presentation of web-based slides on a smartphone to dental hygienists. METHODS: A two-group nonblinded quasi-experimental design was used for this study. Forty-six dental hygienists were assigned to a study (n = 31) or control group (n = 15). The study group viewed 22 slides on fundamental oral health knowledge using smartphones. Pre and postviewing tests (score range: 1-13) and a questionnaire were conducted to evaluate knowledge acquisition and to receive feedback from participants. Differences between the study and control group and intrastudy group differences were statistically evaluated. RESULTS: The fundamental knowledge of dental hygienists improved after viewing the slides: the study group had a significantly higher mean score than the control group (10.87 vs. 6.60; p < 0.001). Study group participants also had substantially higher post-test than pretest knowledge scores (mean 10.87 vs. 6.26, p < 0.001). In the questionnaire, more than 85% of the participants answered that the content of the slides would be useful in their clinical practice. CONCLUSION: Smartphone-based educational slides were beneficial for conveying fundamental and recent oral health knowledge to dental hygienists.

Plaque removal with an experimental chewable toothbrush and a control manual toothbrush in a care-dependent elderly population: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: Oral hygiene and oral health are major concerns for care-dependent elderly persons. The objective of this study was to examine the plaque removal efficacy of a novel experimental chewable toothbrush used by the subjects themselves. METHODOLOGY: Fourteen subjects whose oral care was usually provided by caregivers in nursing facilities were enrolled in a two-phase, crossover study. The study was designed to evaluate plaque removal following a single brushing with either an experimental chewable toothbrush used by the subjects themselves, or a control manual toothbrush used by caregivers on the subjects. Plaque removal was assessed according to the plaque index of Silness and Löe. RESULTS: The overall plaque scores were significantly reduced from 2.14 +/- 0.53 to 1.23 +/- 0.39 using the experimental brush, and from 2.08 +/- 0.43 to 1.22 +/- 0.17 using the control brush (p < 0.05). Relative plaque reduction was 41.0 +/- 17.6% for the experimental brush group and 38.8 +/- 16.6% for the control brush group, with no significant difference between the two brushes (p = 0.84). On lingual tooth surfaces, the experimental brush showed a plaque reduction of 68.8 +/- 13.7% compared to 38.4 +/- 22.9% with the control brush, and the difference was statistically significant (p = 0.011). The chewable toothbrushes were harmless and acceptable to the subjects. CONCLUSION: The experimental brush was able to remove a significant amount of plaque, particularly on the lingual surfaces, demonstrating its effectiveness for plaque removal when used by care-dependent elderly.