1. Introduction
According to the United Nations (UN), the number of persons aged 65 years and over is expected to double by 2050 [1]. Individuals’ oral health tends to decline as their age increases, and such decline has been linked to various systemic diseases [2,3,4]. Therefore, as the number of older adults increases, appropriate actions would be needed to maintain their oral health [5].
With advancements in oral healthcare over the past few decades, it is observed that the number of older adults maintaining natural teeth for their lifetime has increased [6]. However, natural teeth are susceptible to many dental diseases, such as caries, periodontal disease, and tooth wear, thus leading to increased demand for dental treatments.
It is recognized that many oral diseases are mostly behavioral problems and are, therefore, preventable with appropriate approaches [7,8]. Effective self-care oral hygiene measures, such as toothbrushing and interdental cleaning, are essential to oral disease prevention and control. In addition, studies have revealed that older adults who receive regular behavioral instructions tend to have a lower prevalence of caries, gingival inflammation, or tooth loss than their counterparts who rely solely on continuous professional attention [7,9,10,11]. However, given the limited physical functioning of many older adults, their ability to seek professional care is limited. Moreover, it may not be sustainable to send teams of dentists to visit older adults frequently [12,13].
Due to recent technology developments, adopting mobile computing and communication technologies in healthcare and public health is now a possible solution. Mobile health or mHealth is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as “the use of mobile devices (mobile phones, patient monitoring devices, and personal digital assistants) for medical and public health practice” [14]. In general health areas, clinicians have been testing using mobile electronic devices (MEDs), like wearable sensors, to provide older adults with real-time feedback and personalized recommendations for disease management, as well as to promote long-term behavior change with the aid of guided behavioral approaches [15,16,17]. The application of MEDs may allow dentists to provide remote clinical instructions and support oral health behavior change [18,19,20].
The WHO oral health program, headed by Benoit Varenne, has been working on leveraging technology to improve oral health outcomes and promote universal oral health coverage through areas such as oral health promotion, disease prevention, and integrated care [21]. There have been studies investigating the adoption of teledentistry, especially mHealth, as clinical tools for promoting oral health and oral health management for patients who could not visit dental facilities [22,23]. In addition, several reviews have looked at the evidence to support the use of mHealth technologies as oral health knowledge interventions for the general population [22,24] and children [25]. However, there seems to be a lack of summary of evidence regarding using mHealth technologies as oral health knowledge interventions among older adults, and past reviews provided mixed acceptance of mHealth among older adults regarding other health aspects [26,27].
The objectives of this review were to (1) identify the uses of mobile computing and communication technologies by dental professionals in the context of oral health management, oral health behavior, and oral health knowledge of older adults; (2) assess the effectiveness of mHealth regarding different aspects related to oral health, including oral health management, oral health behavior, and oral health knowledge, among older adults; and (3) evaluate the acceptability of mHealth among older adults in oral health management, oral health behavior, and oral health knowledge.
2. Materials and Methods
This review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) statement [28].
2.1. Review Question and Criteria
This review adopted the Population, Intervention, Control, and Outcomes (PICO) framework to answer the question “Is the application of mHealth tools effective in promoting oral health among older adults?” The population (P) of this review was older adults aged 60 years and older [29], without other restrictions. The intervention (I) was any non-clinical oral health intervention, targeting oral health management, oral health behavior, or oral health knowledge, with MEDs. The comparator (C) was conventional (oral health) education (CE) on oral health management, oral health behavior, and oral health knowledge [30,31]. The outcomes (Os) considered in this review were any improvement in terms of oral health management, oral health behavior, or oral health knowledge observed from the cohorts, with or without follow-up assessments [32,33].
Both randomized and quasi-randomized control trials were included. Studies without statistical analysis and studies that did not use mHealth technologies were excluded. Studies that focused on the perspectives of healthcare workers instead of patients were also excluded. The detailed selection criteria are listed in Table 1.
2.2. Search Strategy
A literature search was performed across 4 electronic databases, including PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science, with no filters applied to include the maximum number of studies. An additional search was performed via Google Scholar from inception until February 2023. The search strategy applied was as follows:
“[(Aged) OR (elderly)) OR (old adults)) OR (senior citizen)] AND [(Dental Care for aged) OR (oral health)) OR (dental health)) OR (oral hygiene)) OR (dental health education)) OR (oral health promotion)) OR (oral health education)) OR (oral hygiene instruction)] AND [(telemedicine) OR (teledentistry)) OR (mHealth)) OR (eHealth)) OR (mobile application)) OR (telecommunication)) OR (m-Oral Health)) OR (e-Oral Health)]”.
2.3. Study Selection
Studies were checked for duplications, and title and abstract screening was performed independently by 2 researchers (R.C.W.C., K.M.T.) using an online platform (Covidence, Australia) [34]. Disagreements were solved by discussion. Full-text reading was then performed to select eligible articles by the abovementioned 2 researchers independently using the same online platform. Disagreements were again solved by discussion.
2.4. Data Extraction
Data extraction was conducted independently by the abovementioned 2 researchers using the mentioned online platform, and assessment of the risk of bias was performed independently by the 2 researchers using the National Institutes of Health (NIH) study quality assessment tools [35,36]. The following study features were extracted: (i) method of delivery [37], (ii) content delivered [37], (iii) length per session of the intervention [38], (iv) clinical outcome(s) [37,38], (v) participant-reported outcome(s) [39], (vi) qualitative usability and acceptability [40], and (vii) oral health knowledge outcome(s) [41]. The data extracted were assessed by a third researcher (W.Y.-H.L.) to ensure data quality. In addition, any study’s correspondence author(s) with details missing from the publication were contacted.
3. Results
3.1. Search Results
A total of 1949 studies were retrieved through the primary literature search. After removing duplicates, 1698 studies were screened, and of those, 33 studies were shortlisted for full-text assessment based on screening of their titles and abstracts. Next, the full text of the shortlisted studies was assessed for eligibility, and finally, five studies were selected for this review (Figure 1).
3.2. Study Characteristics
A total of 422 participants were included in the selected studies (n = 5), where 268 were assigned to receive mHealth interventions (Interventions), and 154 were assigned to control groups (Controls). The mean number of participants per study was 84.4, the median was 75, and the number of participants ranged from 46 to 150.
All five selected studies delivered the mHealth interventions through smartphones [42,43,44,45,46], with three of them adopting smartphone applications (APPs) [42,43,44], while one utilized web-based interventions accessible using smartphone web browsers [45], and one delivered interventions through the short message service (SMS) [46]. The participants of two studies were recruited among older adults functioning independently in local communities [44,45], while two recruited through social welfare services [42,43], and one recruited from a dental clinic [46] (Table 2).
3.3. Format and Content Delivery
Four studies adopted audio–visual materials to deliver oral health education messages [42,43,44,45], while one chose text-only delivery through SMS [46]. Four selected studies adopted various interactive features when designing the oral health education materials [42,43,44,45], while one was a one-way delivery of educational materials [46].
All five studies covered toothbrushing instructions in their oral health education materials. Three studies provided the participants with information regarding common oral diseases among older adults [42,45,46], while two briefly covered all oral diseases [43,44]. Instructions on proper denture maintenance was covered in four out of the five studies [43,44,45,46]. Oral motor exercises and mouth massage were included in one study [43]. All studies provided evidence-based knowledge with references (Table 3).
3.4. Outcomes
The five included studies reported five key outcomes, including (i) clinical, (ii) participant-reported, (iii) qualitative, and (iv) oral health knowledge outcomes, as well as (v) acceptability of mHealth interventions (Table 4).
3.4.1. Clinical Outcomes
Only two studies reported clinical outcomes [42,43]. One study reported no significant difference across three clinical indices (the O’Leary Index, tongue coating, and Löe and Silness Index) between the intervention and control groups [42]. The other study reported significant improvement in the Plaque Index; however, no significant differences were reported for the number of functional teeth and tongue coating [43].
3.4.2. Participant-Reported Outcomes
Significant decrease in self-reported oral dryness and a significant increase in self-reported swallowing-related quality of life (SWAL-QoL) and tongue pressure after the intervention were reported in one study [43]. In another study, participants reported a significant increase in willingness to use dental floss after intervention [46].
3.4.3. Qualitative Outcomes
Two studies reported that the mHealth intervention positively impacted oral health behavior and improved oral health knowledge among participants [45,46]. One study reported that participants wanted more than non-individualized oral health education [45].
3.4.4. Oral Health Knowledge Outcomes
Significant improvements in oral health behavior or oral health knowledge after intervention were reported in three studies [42,44,45]. There was one study that reported a significant increase in knowledge about preventing dental caries and periodontal diseases [45].
3.4.5. Acceptability of mHealth Intervention(s)
Two studies reported the acceptability of mHealth as an intervention for oral health management, oral health behavior, and oral health knowledge [45,46]. One study reported that the older adult participants “showed strong support” and “valued” the mHealth intervention, as the participants recognized “the importance of communicating dental information through an online approach”; the participants were also reported to enjoy, feel comfortable, and feel respected with the mHealth intervention as older learners [45]. Another study reported a significantly higher acceptance of mHealth intervention compared to CE; 89% of intervention participants would recommend the mHealth intervention to others, compared to 68% in the control group (p < 0.05) [46].
3.5. Assessment of Risk of Bias
The summary of the assessment of the risk of bias in the selected studies is reported in Table 5. None of the five studies was considered “good” (low risk of bias). Two [44,45,46] were considered “poor” (high risk of bias), while three [42,43] were considered “fair” (unclear risk of bias) [35].
For [42], the intervention allocation was not concealed, and the participants and the assessors were not blinded. The dropout rate was higher than 15%. All these factors resulted in “fair”.
For [43], the intervention allocation was not concealed, and the participants and the assessors were not blinded. The dropout rate was higher than 15%. The information on participant adherence to interventions was not provided. All these factors resulted in “fair”.
For [44], the assessors were not blinded, and participants were changed in the mid-course of the study. The study also failed to adopt an interrupted time-series design, and it was impossible to determine if the statistical analysis was appropriate. Thus, all these factors resulted in “poor”.
For [45], the participants’ selection criteria were not clearly defined, and non-eligible participants were recruited. The assessors were not blinded, and the study failed to adopt an interrupted time-series design. It was not possible to determine if the statistical analysis was appropriate. In addition, the dropout rate was more than 30% (33%), and according to the NIH quality assessment guidelines, it should be considered a “fatal flaw”. Thus, the study was rated as “poor”.
For [46], the intervention allocation was not concealed, and the participants and the assessors were not blinded. The information on participant adherence to interventions was not provided. The information on whether a validated and reliable measurement was used consistently throughout the study was also not reported. In addition, the dropout rate was more than 30% (55%), and according to the NIH quality assessment guidelines, it should be considered a “fatal flaw”. Thus, the study was rated as “poor”.
4. Discussion
This study reviewed the evidence that supports the use of mHealth technologies, such as MEDs, to perform oral health education among older adults. The existing evidence suggested that efforts were being made by dental professionals to use mobile computing and communication technologies to facilitate the oral health management, oral health behavior, and oral health knowledge of older adults. The acceptability was high, though the reported effectiveness was mixed. The result of this review aligned with other studies regarding mHealth in other aspects of healthcare in terms of benefits from mHealth interventions and the potential for better disease management [38,40]. However, the quality of the evidence was not strong. Most studies reported short and few interactions between the participants and the respective research team, suggesting that the outcomes observed, both clinical and behavioral, may be due to other factors, such as participants’ self-care using the provided mHealth tools.
This review widened the scope of existing studies regarding using mHealth technologies to facilitate oral health education, with special emphasis on older adults [22,24,25]. Any form of oral health education intervention with mHealth was included in this study, and all were accessible with MEDs. Among all five studies, a certain form of reinforcement of oral health behavior and oral health knowledge was observed, which suggested that mHealth, with stronger interactions between the participants and the clinicians, could be an ideal tool for repetition and reinforcement, aligning with outcomes of previous studies on oral health behavior and oral health knowledge [22,60].
The willingness to use mHealth technologies among the older adult participants was also observed, suggesting an increase in digital literacy among the older adults as reported in other studies (even though their skills might be limited) [61], which might facilitate the autonomy of older adults and encourage self-efficacy [24].
However, the studies included in this review have several limitations. Most studies did not include baseline clinical examinations, and there was a lack of long-term follow-up, so the potential impacts of mHealth on the oral health of older adults were still not investigated. There was also a lack of information about participants’ adherence to the full intervention and the recruitment rate. Moreover, most of the included studies reported high dropout rates. These factors impaired the quality of the study outcomes.
There were also other limitations to this review. While the effects and acceptance of mHealth technologies were observed, there was limited information to explain such a phenomenon, thus limiting the possibility of exploring each variable and its roles in the outcomes. In addition, given the complex and non-comparable nature of study designs and measurement, meta-analysis was not possible, which limited the quantitative assessment of the impacts of mHealth technologies on older adults. Furthermore, the studies included in this review had limited generalizability, as they were conducted in only four countries (South Korea, Egypt, Australia, and the United Kingdom). This represents a small portion of the various healthcare systems available worldwide. Therefore, readers should exercise caution when interpreting the results of this study.
Future studies investigating the use of mHealth should consider facilitators and barriers of mHealth and older adults, like oral health education materials that are easy to follow and can capture participants’ attention. In addition, investigations of the impact of mHealth on the oral health education of older adults should be paired with adequate clinical assessments, as well as longitudinal follow-ups, to examine short-term and long-term impacts. To improve assessments of the impacts of oral health education interventions, it is recommended to report the baseline information, including the oral health status, the behavioral characteristics of participants, and their oral health knowledge. The dental conditions of the participants such as the degree of edentulism, as well as their prosthetic status, should be reported in future studies.
Advancements in mobile computing and communication technologies have enabled a more personalized approach to oral health management, oral health behavior, and oral health knowledge. One included study reported negative comments from the participants toward non-individualized information [46], which indicated that older adults might require individualized oral health information to feel motivated to adopt mHealth oral health knowledge. Recent studies have demonstrated the use of photographs for site specific gum disease detection [62,63]. Therefore, oral health education tailored to individual needs can be delivered. It is anticipated that improvements in smartphone cameras may facilitate the detection and monitoring of oral diseases, allowing early identification among high-risk patient groups and precise management. As newer-generation mobile networks continue to improve, remote consultation and oral health education via teledentistry [64] may also become more accessible, as well as the use of cloud-based AI for providing more personalized oral health management [65].
5. Conclusions
The existing evidence suggests that mHealth is being used by dental professionals to improve oral health management, oral health behavior, and oral health knowledge among older adults with high acceptability and mixed effectiveness. Such technology may potentially become a valuable tool for promoting oral health. However, the quality of the available studies was fair to poor. More quality studies regarding using mHealth technologies to facilitate oral health management, oral health behavior, and oral health knowledge among older adults are needed.
Methodology, R.C.W.C. and K.M.T.; validation, R.C.W.C., K.M.T. and W.Y.-H.L.; data curation, R.C.W.C. and K.M.T.; writing—original draft preparation, R.C.W.C. and K.M.T.; writing—review and editing, A.C., R.T.C.H. and W.Y.-H.L.; supervision, R.T.C.H. and W.Y.-H.L.; project administration, W.Y.-H.L. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
Not applicable.
No new data were created or analyzed in this study. Data sharing is not applicable to this article.
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Footnotes
Disclaimer/Publisher’s Note: The statements, opinions and data contained in all publications are solely those of the individual author(s) and contributor(s) and not of MDPI and/or the editor(s). MDPI and/or the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to people or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content.
Inclusion/exclusion criteria of this review.
Inclusion Criteria | Exclusion Criteria |
---|---|
|
|
The characteristics of included studies.
Author (Year), Country | Participants 1 | Interventions and Controls | Outcome(s) Measured |
---|---|---|---|
Lee (2023), South Korea [ |
Enrolled in a senior welfare center. |
Intervention |
- Oral health knowledge. + |
Ki (2021), South Korea [ |
Enrolled in a social service program. |
Intervention |
- Oral health behavior. + |
Khalil (2020), Egypt [ |
Independent older adults in the community. |
Intervention |
- Oral health knowledge. + |
Marino (2016), Australia [ |
Independent older adults in the community. |
Intervention |
- Oral health knowledge. + |
Wanyonyi (2022), the United Kingdom [ |
Attendees of a dental clinic. |
Intervention |
- Perceived helpfulness of the program. |
1 Participant characteristics, age, gender, number of participants recruited/completed the studies, and number of participants per group; ^ Outcomes related to oral health management; + Outcomes related to oral health behavior or oral health knowledge.
Format and content delivery of selected studies in this review.
Author (Year) | Format of Delivery (mHealth Technology), Length per Session (If Applicable) | Content Delivered | Reference(s) |
---|---|---|---|
Lee (2023) [ |
Audio–visual materials (mobile APP on smartphones). | - Oral health problems in old adulthood: dental caries and gingival disease; dry mouth and bad breath. |
[ |
Ki (2021) [ |
Audio–visual materials (mobile APP on smartphones), 50 min per session. | - Trot songs (a genre of Korean popular music) [ |
[ |
Khalil (2020) [ |
Audio–visual materials (mobile APP on smartphones), 15 min per session. | - Importance of oral health and its indicators. |
[ |
Marino (2016) [ |
Audio–visual materials (web-based and accessible on smartphones or computers), 27 to 38 min per session. | - Oral health and aging. |
[ |
Wanyonyi (2022) [ |
Text-only materials (SMS on smartphones). | - Toothbrushing behaviors. |
[ |
Summary of key outcomes that were reported in included studies.
Author (Year) | Clinical Outcome(s) | Participant-Reported Outcome(s) | Qualitative Outcome(s) | Oral Health Knowledge Outcome(s) | Acceptability |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lee (2023) [ |
No significant improvement: |
Not reported. | Not reported. | Significant improvement in oral health knowledge. | Not reported. |
Ki (2021) [ |
Significant improvement: |
Significant improvement: |
Not reported. | Not reported. | Not reported. |
Khalil (2020) [ |
Not reported | Not reported | Not reported. | Significant improvement in oral health literacy. | Not reported. |
Marino (2016) [ |
Not reported | Not reported. | - Improved oral health awareness. |
Significant improvement in oral health knowledge. | - Strong participant support. |
Wanyonyi (2022) [ |
Not reported. | Significant improvement: |
- Improved oral health awareness. |
Not reported. | - High acceptance (89%) reported. |
Summary of risk of bias in the selected studies.
Author (Year) | Type of NIH Quality Assessment Tool (Detailed Assessment) | Quality Rating (Score) |
---|---|---|
Lee (2023) [ |
Controlled Intervention Studies ( |
Fair (10/14) |
Ki (2021) [ |
Controlled Intervention Studies ( |
Fair (9/14) |
Khalil (2020) [ |
Before–After (Pre–Post) Studies With No Control Group ( |
Poor (8/12) |
Marino (2016) [ |
Before–After (Pre–Post) Studies With No Control Group ( |
Poor (6/12) 1 |
Wanyonyi (2022) [ |
Controlled Intervention Studies ( |
Poor (8/14) 1 |
1 Fatal flaw(s) [
Appendix A
Assessment of risk of bias for Lee et al. (2023) [
Criteria | Yes | No | Other (CD, NR, NA) * |
---|---|---|---|
1. Was the study described as randomized, a randomized trial, a randomized clinical trial, or an RCT? | ✓ | ||
2. Was the method of randomization adequate (i.e., use of randomly generated assignment)? | ✓ | ||
3. Was the treatment allocation concealed (so that assignments could not be predicted)? | ✓ | ||
4. Were study participants and providers blinded to treatment group assignment? | ✓ | ||
5. Were the people assessing the outcomes blinded to the participants’ group assignments? | ✓ | ||
6. Were the groups similar at baseline on important characteristics that could affect outcomes (e.g., demographics, risk factors, co-morbid conditions)? | ✓ | ||
7. Was the overall dropout rate from the study at endpoint 20% or lower of the number allocated to treatment? | ✓ | ||
8. Was the differential dropout rate (between treatment groups) at endpoint 15 percentage points or lower? | ✓ | ||
9. Was there high adherence to the intervention protocols for each treatment group? | ✓ | ||
10. Were other interventions avoided or similar in the groups (e.g., similar background treatments)? | ✓ | ||
11. Were outcomes assessed using valid and reliable measures, implemented consistently across all study participants? | ✓ | ||
12. Did the authors report that the sample size was sufficiently large to be able to detect a difference in the main outcome between groups with at least 80% power? | ✓ | ||
13. Were the outcomes reported or sub-groups analyzed pre-specified (i.e., identified before analyses were conducted)? | ✓ | ||
14. Were all randomized participants analyzed in the group to which they were originally assigned, i.e., did they use an intention-to-treat analysis? | ✓ |
* CD, cannot determine; NA, not applicable; NR, not reported.
Assessment of risk of bias for Ki et al. (2021) [
Criteria | Yes | No | Other (CD, NR, NA) * |
---|---|---|---|
1. Was the study described as randomized, a randomized trial, a randomized clinical trial, or an RCT? | ✓ | ||
2. Was the method of randomization adequate (i.e., use of randomly generated assignment)? | ✓ | ||
3. Was the treatment allocation concealed (so that assignments could not be predicted)? | ✓ | ||
4. Were study participants and providers blinded to treatment group assignment? | ✓ | ||
5. Were the people assessing the outcomes blinded to the participants’ group assignments? | ✓ | ||
6. Were the groups similar at baseline on important characteristics that could affect outcomes (e.g., demographics, risk factors, co-morbid conditions)? | ✓ | ||
7. Was the overall dropout rate from the study at endpoint 20% or lower of the number allocated to treatment? | ✓ | ||
8. Was the differential dropout rate (between treatment groups) at endpoint 15 percentage points or lower? | ✓ | ||
9. Was there high adherence to the intervention protocols for each treatment group? | CD | ||
10. Were other interventions avoided or similar in the groups (e.g., similar background treatments)? | ✓ | ||
11. Were outcomes assessed using valid and reliable measures, implemented consistently across all study participants? | ✓ | ||
12. Did the authors report that the sample size was sufficiently large to be able to detect a difference in the main outcome between groups with at least 80% power? | ✓ | ||
13. Were the outcomes reported or sub-groups analyzed pre-specified (i.e., identified before analyses were conducted)? | ✓ | ||
14. Were all randomized participants analyzed in the group to which they were originally assigned, i.e., did they use an intention-to-treat analysis? | ✓ |
* CD, cannot determine; NA, not applicable; NR, not reported.
Assessment of risk of bias for Khalil et al. (2020) [
Criteria | Yes | No | Other (CD, NR, NA) * |
---|---|---|---|
1. Was the study question or objective clearly stated? | ✓ | ||
2. Were eligibility/selection criteria for the study population pre-specified and clearly described? | ✓ | ||
3. Were the participants in the study representative of those who would be eligible for the test/service/intervention in the general or clinical population of interest? | ✓ | ||
4. Were all eligible participants that met the pre-specified entry criteria enrolled? | ✓ | ||
5. Was the sample size sufficiently large to provide confidence in the findings? | ✓ | ||
6. Was the test/service/intervention clearly described and delivered consistently across the study population? | ✓ | ||
7. Were the outcome measures pre-specified, clearly defined, valid, reliable, and assessed consistently across all study participants? | ✓ | ||
8. Were the people assessing the outcomes blinded to the participants’ exposures/interventions? | ✓ | ||
9. Was the loss to follow-up after baseline 20% or less? Were those lost to follow-up accounted for in the analysis? | ✓ + | ||
10. Did the statistical methods examine changes in outcome measures from before to after the intervention? Were statistical tests performed that provided p-values for the pre-to-post changes? | ✓ | ||
11. Were outcome measures of interest taken multiple times before the intervention and multiple times after the intervention (i.e., did they use an interrupted time-series design)? | ✓ | ||
12. If the intervention was conducted at a group level (e.g., a whole hospital, a community, etc.), did the statistical analysis take into account the use of individual-level data to determine effects at the group level? | CD | ||
Reason(s) to be considered “Poor” | + Changes in participants to keep the same sample size during the study |
* CD, cannot determine; NA, not applicable; NR, not reported.
Assessment of risk of bias for Marino et al. (2016) [
Criteria | Yes | No | Other (CD, NR, NA) * |
---|---|---|---|
1. Was the study question or objective clearly stated? | ✓ | ||
2. Were eligibility/selection criteria for the study population pre-specified and clearly described? | ✓ | ||
3. Were the participants in the study representative of those who would be eligible for the test/service/intervention in the general or clinical population of interest? | ✓ | ||
4. Were all eligible participants that met the pre-specified entry criteria enrolled? | ✓ | ||
5. Was the sample size sufficiently large to provide confidence in the findings? | ✓ | ||
6. Was the test/service/intervention clearly described and delivered consistently across the study population? | ✓ | ||
7. Were the outcome measures pre-specified, clearly defined, valid, reliable, and assessed consistently across all study participants? | ✓ | ||
8. Were the people assessing the outcomes blinded to the participants’ exposures/interventions? | ✓ | ||
9. Was the loss to follow-up after baseline 20% or less? Were those lost to follow-up accounted for in the analysis? | ✓ + | ||
10. Did the statistical methods examine changes in outcome measures from before to after the intervention? Were statistical tests performed that provided p-values for the pre-to-post changes? | ✓ | ||
11. Were outcome measures of interest taken multiple times before the intervention and multiple times after the intervention (i.e., did they use an interrupted time-series design)? | ✓ | ||
12. If the intervention was conducted at a group level (e.g., a whole hospital, a community, etc.), did the statistical analysis take into account the use of individual-level data to determine effects at the group level? | NA | ||
Reason(s) to be considered “Poor” | + High dropout rate (33%), which was considered a fatal flaw according to guidelines [ |
* CD, cannot determine; NA, not applicable; NR, not reported.
Assessment of risk of bias for Wanyonyi et al. (2022) [
Criteria | Yes | No | Other (CD, NR, NA) * |
---|---|---|---|
1. Was the study described as randomized, a randomized trial, a randomized clinical trial, or an RCT? | ✓ | ||
2. Was the method of randomization adequate (i.e., use of randomly generated assignment)? | ✓ | ||
3. Was the treatment allocation concealed (so that assignments could not be predicted)? | ✓ | ||
4. Were study participants and providers blinded to treatment group assignment? | ✓ | ||
5. Were the people assessing the outcomes blinded to the participants’ group assignments? | ✓ | ||
6. Were the groups similar at baseline on important characteristics that could affect outcomes (e.g., demographics, risk factors, co-morbid conditions)? | ✓ | ||
7. Was the overall dropout rate from the study at endpoint 20% or lower of the number allocated to treatment? | ✓ + | ||
8. Was the differential dropout rate (between treatment groups) at endpoint 15 percentage points or lower? | ✓ | ||
9. Was there high adherence to the intervention protocols for each treatment group? | CD | ||
10. Were other interventions avoided or similar in the groups (e.g., similar background treatments)? | ✓ | ||
11. Were outcomes assessed using valid and reliable measures, implemented consistently across all study participants? | NR | ||
12. Did the authors report that the sample size was sufficiently large to be able to detect a difference in the main outcome between groups with at least 80% power? | ✓ | ||
13. Were the outcomes reported or sub-groups analyzed pre-specified (i.e., identified before analyses were conducted)? | ✓ | ||
14. Were all randomized participants analyzed in the group to which they were originally assigned, i.e., did they use an intention-to-treat analysis? | ✓ | ||
Reason(s) to be considered “Poor” | + High dropout rate (55%), which was considered a fatal flaw according to guidelines [ |
* CD, cannot determine; NA, not applicable; NR, not reported.
References
1. World Population Ageing 2019; Department of Economic and Social Affairs: New York, NY, USA, 2019; 46.
2. McMillan, A.; Wong, M.; Lo, E.; Allen, P. The impact of oral disease among the institutionalized and non-institutionalized elderly in Hong Kong. J. Oral Rehabil.; 2003; 30, pp. 46-54. [DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2842.2003.01046.x] [PubMed: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12485383]
3. Montal, S.; Tramini, P.; Triay, J.A.; Valcarcel, J. Oral hygiene and the need for treatment of the dependent institutionalised elderly. Gerodontology; 2006; 23, pp. 67-72. [DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-2358.2006.00111.x]
4. Dörfer, C.E.; Becher, H.; Ziegler, C.M.; Kaiser, C.; Lutz, R.; Jörß, D.; Lichy, C.; Buggle, F.; Bültmann, S.; Preusch, M. The association of gingivitis and periodontitis with ischemic stroke. J. Clin. Periodontol.; 2004; 31, pp. 396-401. [DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-051x.2004.00579.x]
5. Petersen, P.E.; Yamamoto, T. Improving the oral health of older people: The approach of the WHO Global Oral Health Programme. Community Dent. Oral Epidemiol.; 2005; 33, pp. 81-92. [DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0528.2004.00219.x]
6. Borg-Bartolo, R.; Roccuzzo, A.; Mourelle, P.M.; Schimmel, M.; Gambetta-Tessini, K.; Chaurasia, A.; Koca-Ünsal, R.; Tennert, C.; Giacaman, R.; Campus, G. Global prevalence of edentulism and dental caries in middle-aged and elderly persons. A systematic review and meta-analysis. J. Dent.; 2022; 127, 104335. [DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jdent.2022.104335]
7. McGrath, C.; Zhang, W.; Lo, E.C. A review of the effectiveness of oral health promotion activities among elderly people. Gerodontology; 2009; 26, pp. 85-96. [DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-2358.2008.00232.x] [PubMed: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19490131]
8. Steele, J.; Walls, A. Strategies to improve the quality of oral health care for frail and dependent older people. BMJ Qual. Saf.; 1997; 6, pp. 165-169. [DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1136/qshc.6.3.165] [PubMed: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10173775]
9. Löe, H. Oral hygiene in the prevention of caries and periodontal disease. Int. Dent. J.; 2000; 50, pp. 129-139. [DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1875-595X.2000.tb00553.x]
10. Mojon, P.; Rentsch, A.; Budtz-Jørgensen, E.; Baehni, P.C. Effects of an oral health program on selected clinical parameters and salivary bacteria in a long-term care facility. Eur. J. Oral Sci.; 1998; 106, pp. 827-834. [DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.0909-8836.1998.eos106401.x]
11. Persson, R.E.; Persson, G.R.; Powell, L.V.; Klyak, H.A. Periodontal effects of a biobehavioral prevention program. J. Clin. Periodontol.; 1998; 25, pp. 322-329. [DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-051X.1998.tb02448.x]
12. Wong, F.M.; Ng, Y.T.; Leung, W.K. Oral health and its associated factors among older institutionalized residents—A systematic review. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health; 2019; 16, 4132. [DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16214132]
13. Watt, R.G. Strategies and approaches in oral disease prevention and health promotion. Bull. World Health Organ.; 2005; 83, pp. 711-718. [PubMed: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16211164]
14. Kay, M.; Santos, J.; Takane, M. mHealth: New horizons for health through mobile technologies. World Health Organ.; 2011; 64, pp. 66-71.
15. Shcherbina, A.; Mattsson, C.M.; Waggott, D.; Salisbury, H.; Christle, J.W.; Hastie, T.; Wheeler, M.T.; Ashley, E.A. Accuracy in Wrist-Worn, Sensor-Based Measurements of Heart Rate and Energy Expenditure in a Diverse Cohort. J. Pers. Med.; 2017; 7, 3. [DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/jpm7020003] [PubMed: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28538708]
16. Kim, J.; Campbell, A.S.; de Ávila, B.E.-F.; Wang, J. Wearable biosensors for healthcare monitoring. Nat. Biotechnol.; 2019; 37, pp. 389-406. [DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41587-019-0045-y]
17. Schueller, S.M.; Muñoz, R.F.; Mohr, D.C. Realizing the Potential of Behavioral Intervention Technologies. Curr. Dir. Psychol. Sci.; 2013; 22, pp. 478-483. [DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0963721413495872]
18. Blaya, J.A.; Fraser, H.S.; Holt, B. E-health technologies show promise in developing countries. Health Aff.; 2010; 29, pp. 244-251. [DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2009.0894]
19. Lindquist, A.; Johansson, P.; Petersson, G.; Saveman, B.-I.; Nilsson, G. The use of the Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) among personnel and students in health care: A review. J. Med. Internet Res.; 2008; 10, e1038. [DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.2196/jmir.1038]
20. Cole-Lewis, H.; Kershaw, T. Text messaging as a tool for behavior change in disease prevention and management. Epidemiol. Rev.; 2010; 32, pp. 56-69. [DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/epirev/mxq004]
21. Giraudeau, N.; Varenne, B. Advocacy for a digital oral health that leaves no one behind. JDR Clin. Transl. Res.; 2022; 7, pp. 25-28. [DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/23800844211026610]
22. Fernández, C.; Maturana, C.; Coloma, S.; Carrasco-Labra, A.; Giacaman, R. Teledentistry and mHealth for promotion and prevention of oral health: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J. Dent. Res.; 2021; 100, pp. 914-927. [DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/00220345211003828] [PubMed: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33769123]
23. Aquilanti, L.; Santarelli, A.; Mascitti, M.; Procaccini, M.; Rappelli, G. Dental Care Access and the Elderly: What Is the Role of Teledentistry? A Systematic Review. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health; 2020; 17, 9053. [DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17239053] [PubMed: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33291719]
24. Toniazzo, M.P.; Nodari, D.; Muniz, F.W.M.G.; Weidlich, P. Effect of mHealth in improving oral hygiene: A systematic review with meta-analysis. J. Clin. Periodontol.; 2019; 46, pp. 297-309. [DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jcpe.13083] [PubMed: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30761580]
25. Wang, K.; Yu, K.F.; Liu, P.; Lee, G.H.M.; Wong, M.C.M. Can mHealth promotion for parents help to improve their children’s oral health? A Systematic Review. J. Dent.; 2022; 123, 104185. [DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jdent.2022.104185] [PubMed: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/35691452]
26. Vo, V.; Auroy, L.; Sarradon-Eck, A. Patients’ perceptions of mHealth apps: Meta-ethnographic review of qualitative studies. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth; 2019; 7, e13817. [DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.2196/13817]
27. Gorini, A.; Mazzocco, K.; Triberti, S.; Sebri, V.; Savioni, L.; Pravettoni, G. A P5 Approach to m-Health: Design suggestions for advanced mobile health technology. Front. Psychol.; 2018; 9, 2066. [DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02066]
28. Page, M.J.; McKenzie, J.E.; Bossuyt, P.M.; Boutron, I.; Hoffmann, T.C.; Mulrow, C.D.; Shamseer, L.; Tetzlaff, J.M.; Akl, E.A.; Brennan, S.E. et al. The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ; 2021; 372, n71. [DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n71]
29. Aging, World Health Organization. Available online: https://www.who.int/health-topics/ageing (accessed on 23 March 2023).
30. Gao, X.; Lo, E.C.; Kot, S.C.; Chan, K.C. Motivational interviewing in improving oral health: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. J. Periodontol.; 2014; 85, pp. 426-437. [DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1902/jop.2013.130205]
31. Chunda, R.; Mossey, P.; Freeman, R.; Yuan, S. Health Coaching-Based Interventions for Oral Health Promotion: A Scoping Review. Dent. J.; 2023; 11, 73. [DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/dj11030073]
32. Kakudate, N.; Morita, M.; Sugai, M.; Kawanami, M. Systematic cognitive behavioral approach for oral hygiene instruction: A short-term study. Patient Educ. Couns.; 2009; 74, pp. 191-196. [DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2008.08.014]
33. Kay, E.; Locker, D. A systematic review of the effectiveness of health promotion aimed at improving oral health. Database Abstr. Rev. Eff.; 1998; 15, pp. 132-144.
34. Harrison, H.; Griffin, S.J.; Kuhn, I.; Usher-Smith, J.A. Software tools to support title and abstract screening for systematic reviews in healthcare: An evaluation. BMC Med. Res. Methodol.; 2020; 20, 7. [DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12874-020-0897-3] [PubMed: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31931747]
35. Study Quality Assessment Tools. 2021; Available online: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/study-quality-assessment-tools (accessed on 24 March 2023).
36. Ma, L.-L.; Wang, Y.-Y.; Yang, Z.-H.; Huang, D.; Weng, H.; Zeng, X.-T. Methodological quality (risk of bias) assessment tools for primary and secondary medical studies: What are they and which is better?. Mil. Med. Res.; 2020; 7, 7. [DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s40779-020-00238-8] [PubMed: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32111253]
37. Bashi, N.; Fatehi, F.; Fallah, M.; Walters, D.; Karunanithi, M. Self-management education through mHealth: Review of strategies and structures. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth; 2018; 6, e10771. [DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.2196/10771]
38. Free, C.; Phillips, G.; Watson, L.; Galli, L.; Felix, L.; Edwards, P.; Patel, V.; Haines, A. The effectiveness of mobile-health technologies to improve health care service delivery processes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS Med.; 2013; 10, e1001363. [DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1001363]
39. Lavallee, D.C.; Chenok, K.E.; Love, R.M.; Petersen, C.; Holve, E.; Segal, C.D.; Franklin, P.D. Incorporating patient-reported outcomes into health care to engage patients and enhance care. Health Aff.; 2016; 35, pp. 575-582. [DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2015.1362]
40. Hamine, S.; Gerth-Guyette, E.; Faulx, D.; Green, B.B.; Ginsburg, A.S. Impact of mHealth chronic disease management on treatment adherence and patient outcomes: A systematic review. J. Med. Internet Res.; 2015; 17, e52. [DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.2196/jmir.3951]
41. Kim, H.; Xie, B. Health literacy in the eHealth era: A systematic review of the literature. Patient Educ. Couns.; 2017; 100, pp. 1073-1082. [DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2017.01.015] [PubMed: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28174067]
42. Lee, K.H.; Choi, Y.Y.; Jung, E.S. Effectiveness of an oral health education programme using a mobile application for older adults: A randomised clinical trial. Gerodontology; 2023; 40, pp. 47-55. [DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/ger.12616]
43. Ki, J.Y.; Jo, S.R.; Cho, K.S.; Park, J.E.; Cho, J.W.; Jang, J.H. Effect of Oral Health Education Using a Mobile App (OHEMA) on the Oral Health and Swallowing-Related Quality of Life in Community-Based Integrated Care of the Elderly: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Int. J. Env. Res. Public Health; 2021; 18, 11679. [DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182111679]
44. Khalil, M.; Sorour, D.; Mousa, E.; Shaala, R. Effect of Mobile-Based Educational Program through Bluetooth and WhatsApp. Application on the Oral Health Values, Dental Literacy, and Oral Self-Efficacy among Older Adults. NILES J. Geriatr. Gerontol.; 2020; 3, pp. 42-64. [DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21608/niles.2020.176388]
45. Mariño, R.J.; Marwaha, P.; Barrow, S.Y. Web-based oral health promotion program for older adults: Development and preliminary evaluation. Int. J. Med. Inf.; 2016; 91, pp. e9-e15. [DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2016.04.002] [PubMed: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27117812]
46. Wanyonyi, K.; Couch, C.; John, J.; Louca, C. E-Oral health interventions for older patients in an outreach primary dental care centre: A pilot trial nested acceptability study. Gerodontology; 2022; 39, pp. 241-249. [DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/ger.12562]
47. Lee, K.H.; Choi, Y.Y.; Jung, E.S. Effectiveness of an oral health education programme for older adults using a workbook. Gerodontology; 2020; 37, pp. 374-382. [DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/ger.12472] [PubMed: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32391945]
48. Lynn, H.-G. K-Pop: Popular Music, Cultural Amnesia, and Economic Innovation in South Korea. J. Asian Stud.; 2015; 74, pp. 1047-1049. [DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0021911815001424]
49. Jin, B.-H.; Jo, A.-H.; Jeong, J.-Y.; Song, Y.-S.; Park, D.-Y.; Hwang, Y.-S.; Kim, Y.-S. The evaluation of the 2005 oral health education materials made in Korea oral health association. J. Korean Dent. Assoc.; 2006; 44, pp. 561-573.
50. Kim, J.H.; Kim, H.Y. Effects of an oral self-care program on the elderly’s xerostomia and oral health-related quality of life. J. Korean Acad. Community Health Nurs.; 2018; 29, pp. 382-392. [DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.12799/jkachn.2018.29.3.382]
51. Lee, G.R.; Kim, D.R.; Lim, H.N.; Kang, K.H. The effects of the oral care program for improving swallowing function of the elderly using welfare centers on depression, self efficacy, subjective oral health status and swallowing related quality of life. J. Korean Acad. Community Health Nurs.; 2020; 31, pp. 166-178. [DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.12799/jkachn.2020.31.2.166]
52. Al-Sinaidi, A.A. Periodontal health and oral hygiene practice of elderly Saudis living at Riyadh Nursing Home. King Saud Univ. J. Dent. Sci.; 2012; 3, pp. 1-5. [DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ksujds.2011.10.005]
53. Das, D.; Menon, I.; Gupta, R.; Arora, V.; Ashraf, A.; Ahsan, I. Oral health literacy: A practical strategy towards better oral health status among adult population of Ghaziabad district. J. Fam. Med. Prim. Care; 2020; 9, 764. [DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1049_19]
54. Catteau, C.; Faulks, D.; Mishellany-Dutour, A.; Collado, V.; Tubert-Jeannin, S.; Tardieu, C.; Hugues, P.; Roger-Leroi, V.; Hennequin, M. Using e-learning to train dentists in the development of standardised oral health promotion interventions for persons with disability. Eur. J. Dent. Educ.; 2013; 17, pp. 143-153. [DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/eje.12024] [PubMed: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23815691]
55. Ab Malik, N.; Zhang, J.; Lam, O.L.T.; Jin, L.; McGrath, C. Effectiveness of computer-aided learning in oral health among patients and caregivers: A systematic review. J. Am. Med. Inform. Assoc.; 2017; 24, pp. 209-217. [DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jamia/ocw045] [PubMed: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27274013]
56. Palati, S.; Ramani, P.; Shrelin, H.J.; Sukumaran, G.; Ramasubramanian, A.; Don, K.; Jayaraj, G.; Santhanam, A. Knowledge, Attitude and practice survey on the perspective of oral lesions and dental health in geriatric patients residing in old age homes. Indian J. Dent. Res.; 2020; 31, pp. 22-25. [DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4103/ijdr.IJDR_195_18]
57. Mariño, R.; Calache, H.; Wright, C.; Schofield, M.; Minichiello, V. Oral health promotion programme for older migrant adults. Gerodontology; 2004; 21, pp. 216-225. [DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-2358.2004.00035.x]
58. Mariño, R.; Calache, H.; Morgan, M. A Community-Based Culturally Competent Oral Health Promotion for Migrant Older Adults Living in Melbourne, Australia. J. Am. Geriatr. Soc.; 2013; 61, pp. 270-275. [DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jgs.12078] [PubMed: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23320643]
59. Office for Health Improvement and DisparitiesDepartment of Health and Social CareNHS EnglandNHS Improvement. Delivering Better Oral Health: An Evidence-Based Toolkit for Prevention. 2014; Available online: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/delivering-better-oral-health-an-evidence-based-toolkit-for-prevention (accessed on 3 April 2023).
60. Haleem, A.; Khan, M.K.; Sufia, S.; Chaudhry, S.; Siddiqui, M.I.; Khan, A.A. The role of repetition and reinforcement in school-based oral health education-a cluster randomized controlled trial. BMC Public Health; 2016; 16, 2. [DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12889-015-2676-3]
61. Busch, P.A.; Hausvik, G.I.; Ropstad, O.K.; Pettersen, D. Smartphone usage among older adults. Comput. Hum. Behav.; 2021; 121, 106783. [DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2021.106783]
62. Chau, R.C.W.; Li, G.-H.; Tew, I.M.; Thu, K.M.; McGrath, C.; Lo, W.-L.; Ling, W.-K.; Hsung, R.T.-C.; Lam, W.Y.H. Accuracy of Artificial Intelligence-Based Photographic Detection of Gingivitis. Int. Dent. J.; 2023; in press [DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.identj.2023.03.007]
63. Shen, K.L.; Huang, C.L.; Lin, Y.C.; Du, J.K.; Chen, F.L.; Kabasawa, Y.; Chen, C.C.; Huang, H.L. Effects of artificial intelligence-assisted dental monitoring intervention in patients with periodontitis: A randomized controlled trial. J. Clin. Periodontol.; 2022; 49, pp. 988-998. [DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jcpe.13675]
64. El Tantawi, M.; Lam, W.Y.H.; Giraudeau, N.; Virtanen, J.I.; Matanhire, C.; Chifamba, T.; Sabbah, W.; Gomaa, N.; Al-Maweri, S.A.; Uribe, S.E. et al. Teledentistry from research to practice: A tale of nineteen countries. Front. Oral Health; 2023; 4, 1188557. [DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.3389/froh.2023.1188557]
65. Chau, R.C.W.; Thu, K.M.; Hsung, R.T.C.; Lam, W.Y.H. Teeth Reconstruction Using Artificial Intelligence: Trends, Perspectives, and Prospects. J. Calif. Dent. Assoc.; 2023; 51, 2199910. [DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/19424396.2023.2199910]
You have requested "on-the-fly" machine translation of selected content from our databases. This functionality is provided solely for your convenience and is in no way intended to replace human translation. Show full disclaimer
Neither ProQuest nor its licensors make any representations or warranties with respect to the translations. The translations are automatically generated "AS IS" and "AS AVAILABLE" and are not retained in our systems. PROQUEST AND ITS LICENSORS SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIM ANY AND ALL EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY WARRANTIES FOR AVAILABILITY, ACCURACY, TIMELINESS, COMPLETENESS, NON-INFRINGMENT, MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. Your use of the translations is subject to all use restrictions contained in your Electronic Products License Agreement and by using the translation functionality you agree to forgo any and all claims against ProQuest or its licensors for your use of the translation functionality and any output derived there from. Hide full disclaimer
© 2023 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.
Abstract
Oral diseases are largely preventable. However, as the number of older adults is expected to increase, along with the high cost and various barriers to seeking continuous professional care, a sustainable approach is needed to assist older adults in maintaining their oral health. Mobile health (mHealth) technologies may facilitate oral disease prevention and management through oral health education. This review aims to provide an overview of existing evidence on using mHealth to promote oral health through education among older adults. A literature search was performed across five electronic databases. A total of five studies were identified, which provided low to moderate evidence to support using mHealth among older adults. The selected studies showed that mHealth could improve oral health management, oral health behavior, and oral health knowledge among older adults. However, more quality studies regarding using mHealth technologies in oral health management, oral health behavior, and oral health knowledge among older adults are needed.
You have requested "on-the-fly" machine translation of selected content from our databases. This functionality is provided solely for your convenience and is in no way intended to replace human translation. Show full disclaimer
Neither ProQuest nor its licensors make any representations or warranties with respect to the translations. The translations are automatically generated "AS IS" and "AS AVAILABLE" and are not retained in our systems. PROQUEST AND ITS LICENSORS SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIM ANY AND ALL EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY WARRANTIES FOR AVAILABILITY, ACCURACY, TIMELINESS, COMPLETENESS, NON-INFRINGMENT, MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. Your use of the translations is subject to all use restrictions contained in your Electronic Products License Agreement and by using the translation functionality you agree to forgo any and all claims against ProQuest or its licensors for your use of the translation functionality and any output derived there from. Hide full disclaimer
Details
1 Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China;
2 Faculty of Dental Sciences, King George’s Medical University, Lucknow 226003, India;
3 Department of Computer Science, Hong Kong Chu Hai College, Hong Kong 999077, China;