Research

Perception of smartphone applications for oral health care education in infants and toddlers

Gyoung-Hoe Kim1   Kyeong-Hee Lee2   

Department of Early Childhood Education, Shin-han University
1Department of Dental Hygiene, Shin-han University

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to provide basic data for future development and promotion of oral health care educational material. We examined the perception of teachers and parents on the use of smartphone applications as educational materials and the factors affecting the intent to use such materials in infants and toddlers. Methods: Teachers and parents of children enrolled in educational institutions in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, Korea, participated in this study for a one-month period starting from August 2018. Results: The intent to use a freely available smartphone application for oral health education in infants and toddlers was high for both parents and teachers at 81.7% and 78.4%, respectively. The intent to use increased 10.089-fold when a child had unrestricted access to mobile devices, and 4.435-fold when the execution path required modification; however, the ease of use was not compromised. Additionally, the intent to use also increased 2.488-fold when a child had used an educational oral healthcare material that is currently available, and by 2.431-fold and 2.219-fold when a child had previous experiences with an educational mobile application developed for infants and toddlers. Conclusions: Our findings showed that the teachers and parents had a positive perception towards the use of mobile applications for oral health care education in infants and toddlers. We recommend the development and promotion of mobile-based educational applications on oral health care, which are tailored to the needs and oral characteristics of infants and toddlers to help develop good oral care habits.

Figures & Tables

Table 1. General characteristics of the subjects