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NCT Number: NCT07323771

Improving Oral Health Knowledge and Habits in People With Diabetes Through a Theory Guided WhatsApp Education Program

The goal of this Educational interventional study is to test the usefulness of an educational program delivered through WhatsApp videos in increasing oral health knowledge and habits in people with Diabetes between the age of 18 and 65 years. The main question it aims to answer is:

Does a WhatsApp-based educational Program improve oral health knowledge and behaviors in people with diabetes, and is it more effective than education delivered through brochures? Participants in one group will receive educational videos through WhatsApp, while the other group receive a brochure containing oral health information. Researchers will then compare the groups to see if the intervention made a difference.

Participants will:

* Fill a baseline questionnaire to assess their current knowledge and behaviors. * They then either participate in a one-month educational program delivered through WhatsApp, or receive an educational brochure. * Wait for 1 month after the program to allow for application of knowledge. * Fill a post intervention questionnaire to assess changes in knowledge and behavior.

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Key information

Conditions

Oral Health Knowledge Diabetes Mellitus Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 Diabetes Type 2 Endocrine System Diseases Glucose Metabolism Disorders Metabolic Diseases Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases Oral Health Behavior Change

Age range

18 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

National Institute of Diabetes & Endocrinology

Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan

About this study

The purpose of this study is to determine whether an educational intervention based on the Health Belief Model (HBM) and delivered through WhatsApp may improve diabetes patients' oral health behaviors and knowledge. This study is a randomized controlled trial (RCT) with two groups: an intervention group (WhatsApp-based education) and a control group (brochure-based education). Adults (18-65 years) with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus from a diabetes clinic in Karachi were recruited. 98 participants (49 in each group) were selected through random allocation. The randomization process ensured that participants are evenly distributed between the groups based on key factors, specifically gender, educational level and duration of diabetes to reduce potential bias from these characteristics. This study was a single blinded study in which participants were not informed about the existence of two distinct groups. The WhatsApp based intervention consisted of 12 short educational videos, each approximately 3 to 5 minutes in duration, these videos were sent individually to each participant every alternate day from Monday to Friday, resulting in three videos per week over a period of one month, Reminders were sent the following day after each video to encourage engagement and sustain behavior change. Each week was focused on specific HBM constructs delivered through short, professionally scripted educational videos in Urdu. Each week was focused on specific HBM constructs. The control group received only an educational brochure.

A structured questionnaire was used to evaluate participants' knowledge and oral hygiene practices at two points: baseline (before intervention) and one-month post-intervention. The questionnaire was designed to measure HBM constructs (e.g. perceived susceptibility, severity, benefits, barriers, cues to action, and self-efficacy), awareness of oral care and oral hygiene related behaviors. Data were analyzed using SPSS Version 27.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Adults aged 18-65 years with a confirmed diagnosis of T2DM
  • Able to use WhatsApp for the study duration
  • Able to read and write in Urdu

Exclusion criteria

  • Edentulous
  • Individuals diagnosed with life-threatening diseases such as advanced cancer, end-stage renal disease, or severe cardiac failure
  • Diminished cognitive ability
  • Radiotherapy in head and neck region.
  • Planning to migrate during the study period.

Treatment and study plan

Health Belief Model (HBM) Based WhatsApp Oral Health Education Program

Behavioral

The program includes short educational videos, weekly thematic content, reminders, and behavior-reinforcement messages aimed at enhancing oral health knowledge, HBM constructs, and oral hygiene behaviors among individuals with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Educational Brochure Group

Behavioral

The Educational brochure provides information on the relationship between Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and oral health and recommended oral hygiene practices. No WhatsApp based videos are provided during the study period

Primary outcomes

  1. Oral Health Knowledge Score

    Time frame: Baseline and 4 weeks after intervention

    The participant's knowledge about the relationship between diabetes and oral health issues, will be assessed through a structured Questionnaire consisting of 10 binary items. (Yes = 1, No = 0). A total knowledge score ranging from 0 to 10 will be calculated by summing item responses, with higher scores indicating greater oral health knowledge. Pre- and post-knowledge scores will be compared, and cutoff scores will be calculated using the mean and Standard Deviation.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Health Belief Model Construct Scores

    Time frame: Baseline and 4 weeks after intervention

    Health Belief Model constructs, including perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, self-efficacy, and cues to action, will be assessed using a structured Questionnaire. Items will be measured on a Likert scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). Separate construct scores will be calculated by summing item responses within each domain, with higher scores indicating stronger beliefs or perceptions related to oral health behaviors.

  2. Oral Hygiene Behavior Score

    Time frame: Baseline and 4 weeks after intervention

    Participants' reported frequency and quality of oral health practices, including brushing, flossing, gingival health, and dental visits will be measured on a scale of 0(never) to 4(always) using a structured questionnaire. Higher scores indicate better oral hygiene-related behaviors. Pre- and post-intervention scores will be compared, and cutoff levels will be determined using the mean and standard deviation(SD).

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Dow University of Health Sciences

Other

Registry information

Official study title

The Effectiveness of Educational Intervention Based on Health Belief Model Delivered Via WhatsApp on Oral Health Knowledge and Behaviors of Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus; A Randomized Controlled Trial

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Jan 7, 2026
Registry last updated
Jan 7, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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