News
Technology-enabled Anticipatory Guidance and Peer Support in Empowering Parents to Prevent Early Childhood Caries: A Randomised Controlled Trial
Awarded: National Medical Research Council (NMRC) Population Health Research Grant
Year of Award: 2024
Early childhood caries (ECC) presents a significant challenge in both clinical and public health domains, particularly in Singapore. Despite sustained efforts over decades, the prevalence rates in the country remain among the highest in developed nations.
Recently, researchers from the NUS Faculty of Dentistry, in collaboration with various organisations such as the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, the National University Hospital (NUH), Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health (SSHSPH), and the Health Promotion Board (HPB), secured the National Medical Research Council (NMRC) Population Health Research Grant. This grant will fund their study titled “Technology-enabled Anticipatory Guidance and Peer Support in Empowering Parents to Prevent Early Childhood Caries: A Randomised Controlled Trial”.
The primary objective of this study is to assess the effectiveness of a comprehensive intervention strategy. This strategy involves anticipatory guidance and peer support, delivered through online or mobile platforms, to empower parents to adopt proper childcare practices, thereby preventing ECC. If proven effective, the intervention programme has the potential to reverse the concerning trend of ECC prevalence, paving the way for a positive trajectory in children's oral and general health.
Target Group:
The trial will involve 490 parent-child dyads in Singapore, recruited from NUH's pre-natal clinics and post-natal wards. Children will join the study before the age of three months. Appropriately timed guidance and support will be provided to parents throughout their childcare journey, and the ECC rate and other outcomes will be assessed when the child turns 24 and 26 months.
Research Team:
NUS Faculty of Dentistry
Associate Professor Gao Xiaoli
Associate Professor Catherine Hong Hsu Ling
Associate Professor Wong Mun Loke
National University Hospital and NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine
Associate Professor Zubair Amin
Dr Yvonne Ng Peng Mei
Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health
Professor Gerald Koh Choon Huat
Dr Foong Pin Sym
Dr Mary Chong Foong Fong
Dr Sharon Tan Hui Xuan
Health Promotion Board
Dr Eu Oy Chu
Project Proposal Overview:
The study will employ a two-arm, parallel-group, assessor-blinded, randomised controlled trial design. Parent-child dyads will be randomly assigned to either the control group (receiving usual care through an infant oral health booklet) or the intervention group (receiving technology-enabled anticipatory guidance and peer support). The intervention will be delivered in four rounds, aligning with the child's developmental milestones at three, six, 12, and 18 months.
Outcomes will be assessed through a combination of questionnaires, food diaries, and dental examinations at various intervals up to 36 months of the child's age. The evaluation will encompass psychological outcomes (parental efficacy), behavioural outcomes (dietary, feeding, and oral hygiene practices), clinical outcomes (oral hygiene and ECC), and quality of life outcomes.
This research project represents a significant step towards addressing ECC on a broad scale, combining technological innovation, community support, and evidence-based interventions to empower parents and improve the oral health of future generations. Through collaboration with leading experts across diverse healthcare organisations, the Faculty aims to formulate a comprehensive intervention strategy that fosters early oral health and overall well-being.