Ali Tayebi1, Nima Sheikh Davoodi2, Kasra Rahimipour3, Reza Mousavi4, Monirsadat Mirzadeh5, Mohammadreza Amin2, Ehsan Vaseghi6. 1. Department of Orthodontics, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran. 2. Faculty of Dentistry, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran. 3. Dental Research Center, Research Institute of Dental Sciences, School of Dentistry, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Daneshjou Boulevard, Evin, Tehran, Iran. kasra.rahimipour@gmail.com. 4. Dental Research Center, Research Institute of Dental Sciences, School of Dentistry, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Daneshjou Boulevard, Evin, Tehran, Iran. 5. Metabolic Disease Research Center, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran. 6. , Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to design and implement a mobile phone application (app) aiming to enhance the cooperation and oral hygiene of orthodontic patients. METHODS: An orthodontic app named "Labkhand" was designed by a team of orthodontists and programmers according to the needs and scheduled interventions for patients. The aim of this app was to obviate the orthodontic needs of patients by providing educational content in the form of texts and videos, oral hygiene reminders, appointment reminders, and nutrition reminders. It also enabled instant messaging and chatting between patients and dental personnel. In this study, 61 patients were monitored during their orthodontic treatment procedure. All patients were evaluated using a questionnaire with 7 questions before and after a 6-month treatment period. A total of 31 patients were instructed to use the app, while the other 30 patients received treatment without the app. The collected data were analyzed using paired t‑test and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) test. RESULTS: While the control group's questionnaire score remained almost the same (P > 0.05), the mean questionnaire score of patients in the intervention group significantly increased after using the app compared to the baseline scores acquired before using the app (P < 0.001). The greatest improvement was noted in topics related to "reminding of appointments", "general information about orthodontic treatment", and "oral hygiene maintenance and instructions". "Quality of services" and "patient-orthodontist communication" showed the least improvement in patient satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: The Labkhand orthodontic app has multiple functions and can obviate the needs of orthodontic patients easily and at a low cost.
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to design and implement a mobile phone application (app) aiming to enhance the cooperation and oral hygiene of orthodontic patients. METHODS: An orthodontic app named "Labkhand" was designed by a team of orthodontists and programmers according to the needs and scheduled interventions for patients. The aim of this app was to obviate the orthodontic needs of patients by providing educational content in the form of texts and videos, oral hygiene reminders, appointment reminders, and nutrition reminders. It also enabled instant messaging and chatting between patients and dental personnel. In this study, 61 patients were monitored during their orthodontic treatment procedure. All patients were evaluated using a questionnaire with 7 questions before and after a 6-month treatment period. A total of 31 patients were instructed to use the app, while the other 30 patients received treatment without the app. The collected data were analyzed using paired t‑test and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) test. RESULTS: While the control group's questionnaire score remained almost the same (P > 0.05), the mean questionnaire score of patients in the intervention group significantly increased after using the app compared to the baseline scores acquired before using the app (P < 0.001). The greatest improvement was noted in topics related to "reminding of appointments", "general information about orthodontic treatment", and "oral hygiene maintenance and instructions". "Quality of services" and "patient-orthodontist communication" showed the least improvement in patient satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: The Labkhand orthodontic app has multiple functions and can obviate the needs of orthodontic patients easily and at a low cost.
Authors: Christoph Ebner; Elisabeth Mt Wurm; Barbara Binder; Harald Kittler; Gian Piero Lozzi; Cesare Massone; Gerald Gabler; Rainer Hofmann-Wellenhof; H Peter Soyer Journal: J Telemed Telecare Date: 2008 Impact factor: 6.184
Authors: Lara Ferrandiz; David Moreno-Ramirez; Adoracion Nieto-Garcia; Rafael Carrasco; Pedro Moreno-Alvarez; Rafael Galdeano; Esther Bidegain; Juan J Rios-Martin; Francisco M Camacho Journal: Dermatol Surg Date: 2007-09 Impact factor: 3.398
Authors: Karin Källander; James K Tibenderana; Onome J Akpogheneta; Daniel L Strachan; Zelee Hill; Augustinus H A ten Asbroek; Lesong Conteh; Betty R Kirkwood; Sylvia R Meek Journal: J Med Internet Res Date: 2013-01-25 Impact factor: 5.428