Exploring caregivers’ experiences related to the use of a smart toothbrush by children with autism spectrum disorder
Brief description of study
The objective of this study is to examine caregiver reactions to the use of the hum by Colgate Smart Kids Toothbrush and associated app by children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Little is known about what caregivers for children with intellectual disabilities would consider “successful assistance” for achieving better oral health. Research has identified a number of factors that contribute to poor oral health in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), including difficulty tolerating home and professional oral care, sensory processing differences, uncooperative behaviors, communication impairments, as well as challenges finding and accessing professional oral care services.
Detailed description of study
This is a single-center, pretest-posttest, non-randomized, clinical study involving interviews with caregivers prior to utilization of the research toothbrush and after 4 weeks of product use by the child. All participants enrolled will be children ages 5-12 years and their primary caregivers. Participants will be asked to utilize a Hum by Colgate Smart Kids Toothbrush (manual or battery-powered) for four weeks.
To assure that subjects are comfortable with the oral care regime proposed, toothbrushes will be distributed based on the subject's previous oral hygiene habits. Children who are currently using manual brushes will receive the Hum by Colgate Smart Manual Kids Toothbrush, likewise, children who are used to battery-powered toothbrushes will receive the Hum by Colgate Smart Kids battery-powered toothbrush.
The Hum by Colgate Smart Manual Kids Toothbrush is a smart toothbrush that uses augmented reality to engage children during toothbrushing through the use of games, providing guidance on brushing techniques. This study aims to capture caregiver reactions such as how easy and enjoyable the use of the toothbrush and app seemed to be for their child with ASD and how useful the caregiver found the connected toothbrush to be. These insights will explore the value of utilizing ‘smart’ toothbrush technologies for the engagement of children with ASD in oral hygiene through the perspective of the caregiver.
Eligibility of study
You may be eligible for this study if you meet the following criteria:
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Conditions:
ASD,Autism,Autism Spectrum Disorder
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Age: Between 5 Years - 12 Years
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Gender: All
1. Signed Informed Consent Form by the child’s legal guardian on behalf of the child and from the primary (responsible for child’s oral healthcare) caregiver.
2. Caregiver must be able to observe the child using the Hum by Colgate Smart Manual Kids Toothbrush and app twice a day.
3. Caregivers must have a child between the ages of 5-12 years old, who is willing to participate.
4. Child must be reported in good general health and good oral health based on the opinion of the study investigator.
5. Caregiver and child must be available for the duration of the study.
6. Caregiver must have access to Apple iPhone (newer than 8) or iPad (newer than 5th generation) or Android users (running Android 6.0 and up) with access to an Internet Connection.
7. Caregiver must be willing to comply with the study protocol.
8. Caregiver must be willing to download and use the app associated with the connected brush.
9. Caregiver must be willing to be audiotaped during key informant interview sessions.
10. English fluency for the child’s legal guardian/caregiver.
11. Caregiver must be willing to have a shared brushing experience between themselves and the child.
Updated on
03 Oct 2022.
Study ID: 850364
