Assessing the Impact of a Social Media-Based Educational Intervention Using WhatsApp Video Messages on Dental Caries Prevention Knowledge, Oral Hygiene Practices, and Attitudes Toward Dental Health Among Primary School Children Aged 10-12 Years in Public Schools in Cairo Governorate, Egypt: A Quasi-

Summary

The goal of this study is to learn if educational videos sent through WhatsApp can improve dental health knowledge, healthy habits, and attitudes in primary school children aged 10 to 12 years in Cairo, Egypt.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

* Do children who receive dental health videos through WhatsApp have better knowledge about caring for their teeth after 8 weeks compared to children who do not receive the videos?
* Do children who watch the videos brush their teeth more often and correctly, and make healthier food choices?
* Do children who watch the videos feel more positive about taking care of their teeth and visiting the dentist?

Researchers will compare children in Grade 5 who receive 6 short dental health videos through WhatsApp (one video per week for 6 weeks) to children in Grade 6 who continue their normal school activities to see if the videos lead to better knowledge, healthy habits, and more positive attitudes about dental health.

Participants will:

* Answer questions about their dental health knowledge, tooth brushing and eating habits, and feelings about dental care at the start of the study (takes about 15 to 20 minutes in a private room at school)
* Children in Grade 5 will join a WhatsApp group and receive one short video (2 to 5 minutes) each week for 6 weeks about topics like why teeth are important, how to brush teeth correctly, which foods are goo

Conditions

• Dental Caries
• Oral Health Behavior Change
• Oral Hygiene, Oral Health
• Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
• Child Behavioral Health
• Preventive Health Care

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

WhatsApp-Based Dental Health Education for Children

Six educational videos about dental health delivered via a closed WhatsApp group over 6 weeks (one video per week, posted every Monday at 4:00 PM). Each video is 2-5 minutes long, features Arabic voiceover with colorful animations, and is age-appropriate for children aged 10-12 years. Video topics: Week 1 - Importance of teeth (anatomy, functions, consequences of tooth loss), Week 2 - Proper brushing technique (circular motion, all surfaces, 2-minute duration, twice daily), Week 3 - Foods that harm teeth (sugary foods, sticky snacks, frequent eating), Week 4 - Foods good for teeth (calcium-rich foods, crunchy vegetables, water), Week 5 - Importance of dental visits (professional cleaning, preventive care, reducing fear), Week 6 - Fun tips for healthy smiles (review, establishing routines, positive reinforcement). All videos selected based on evidence-based content aligned with WHO and American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry guidelines.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Military Medical Academy, Bulgaria

  collaborator OTHER

• Cairo University

  collaborator OTHER

• Rana Mohamed Ahmed Farghal

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Passant Nagi, PHD · Cairo University, Military Medical Academy

• Rana M FARGHAL, B.D.S. · Military Medical Academy, Bulgaria

Study Design

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

10 Years

Max Age

12 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-02-01

Primary Completion

2026-05-20

Completion

2026-06-30

Countries

• Egypt

Study Locations