<?xml version="1.0"?>
<Articles JournalTitle="Frontiers in Dentistry">
  <Article>
    <Journal>
      <PublisherName>Tehran University of Medical Sciences</PublisherName>
      <JournalTitle>Frontiers in Dentistry</JournalTitle>
      <Issn>2676-296X</Issn>
      <Volume>23</Volume>
      <Issue>0</Issue>
      <PubDate PubStatus="epublish">
        <Year>2026</Year>
        <Month>09</Month>
        <Day>26</Day>
      </PubDate>
    </Journal>
    <title locale="en_US">Effect of Controlled Social Media Oral Health Interventions Using Storytelling and Text-Based Education on Knowledge, Practice, and Satisfaction of Mothers with Toddlers: A Clinical Trial</title>
    <FirstPage>5074</FirstPage>
    <LastPage>5074</LastPage>
    <Language>EN</Language>
    <AuthorList>
      <Author>
        <FirstName>Elaheh</FirstName>
        <LastName>Amirian</LastName>
        <affiliation locale="en_US">Department of Community Oral Health, School of Dentistry, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran</affiliation>
      </Author>
      <Author>
        <FirstName>Hoda</FirstName>
        <LastName>Bahramian</LastName>
        <affiliation locale="en_US">1. Department of Community Oral Health, School of Dentistry, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran  2. Research Center for Caries Prevention, Dentistry Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences,</affiliation>
      </Author>
      <Author>
        <FirstName>Ali</FirstName>
        <LastName>Zekavat</LastName>
        <affiliation locale="en_US">Department of Community Oral Health, School of Dentistry, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran</affiliation>
      </Author>
      <Author>
        <FirstName>Ali</FirstName>
        <LastName>Baghalian</LastName>
        <affiliation locale="en_US">3. Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Dental School, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 4. Rutgers School of Dental Medicine, New Jersey, USA</affiliation>
      </Author>
      <Author>
        <FirstName>Mohammad</FirstName>
        <LastName>Kharazifard</LastName>
        <affiliation locale="en_US">Dental Research Center, Dentistry Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran</affiliation>
      </Author>
      <Author>
        <FirstName>Simin Zahra</FirstName>
        <LastName>Mohebbi</LastName>
        <affiliation locale="en_US">1. Department of Community Oral Health, School of Dentistry, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran  2. Research Center for Caries Prevention, Dentistry Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran</affiliation>
      </Author>
    </AuthorList>
    <History>
      <PubDate PubStatus="received">
        <Year>2024</Year>
        <Month>01</Month>
        <Day>07</Day>
      </PubDate>
      <PubDate PubStatus="accepted">
        <Year>2025</Year>
        <Month>02</Month>
        <Day>22</Day>
      </PubDate>
    </History>
    <abstract locale="en_US">Objectives: This study aimed to examine the impact of social media oral health interventions, using storytelling and text-based education, on the knowledge, practice, and satisfaction of toddlers&#x2019; mothers.
&#xD;

Materials and Methods: This controlled clinical trial was conducted in 2020 and involved 118 Iranian mothers with toddlers who were active Instagram users. The participants were randomly assigned to two groups storytelling (n=35) and text-based education (n=83). After two weeks, the mothers&#x2019; knowledge (n=8 questions), practice (n=7 questions), and satisfaction (n=5 questions) were assessed using an online questionnaire. The Mann-Whitney test and generalized linear model were used for statistical analyses (alpha=0.05).
&#xD;

Results: The mean scores of knowledge, practice of mothers regarding their children, and their practice regarding themselves were 34.71&#xB1;6.85, 10.54&#xB1;5.05, and 8.65&#xB1;1.84 in the storytelling group, and 34.87&#xB1;6.80, 10.32&#xB1;3.97, and 9.18&#xB1;1.76 in the text-based education group, respectively. Of all, 71.4% of those in the storytelling group and 72.3% of the text-based education group described the received content as very good. Mothers&#x2019; knowledge (P=0.002, &#x3B2;=0.094) and practice regarding their children (P=0.041, &#x3B2;=0.099) were directly correlated with their satisfaction. The satisfaction score was significantly lower in mothers with a higher educational level (P=0.003, &#x3B2;=-1.3).
&#xD;

Conclusion: While mothers displayed a relatively desirable level of knowledge, their oral health practice fell short. However, it is worth noting that mothers expressed high satisfaction with both interventions. Hence, online learning should be considered and promoted alongside traditional methods to effectively accelerate oral health practices. Implementing these methods over an extended period will help establish more sustainable effects.</abstract>
    <web_url>https://fid.tums.ac.ir/index.php/fid/article/view/5074</web_url>
    <pdf_url>https://fid.tums.ac.ir/index.php/fid/article/download/5074/2234</pdf_url>
  </Article>
</Articles>
