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 Publisher

Summary: 🦷Can social media change oral health habits? A study found that while mothers showed good knowledge, their practice needs improvement. High satisfaction with storytelling and text-based methods suggests promise! #OralHealth #SocialMediaResearch

Amirian E ; Bahramian H ; Zekavat A ; Baghalian A ; Kharazifard M J ; Mohebbi S Z
Source: Frontiers in Dentistry Published:2026

Abstract

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’ mothers. 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’ 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). Results: The mean scores of knowledge, practice of mothers regarding their children, and their practice regarding themselves were 34.71±6.85, 10.54±5.05, and 8.65±1.84 in the storytelling group, and 34.87±6.80, 10.32±3.97, and 9.18±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’ knowledge (P=0.002, β=0.094) and practice regarding their children (P=0.041, β=0.099) were directly correlated with their satisfaction. The satisfaction score was significantly lower in mothers with a higher educational level (P=0.003, β=-1.3). 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. Copyright © 2026 The Authors.