IADR Abstract Archives
Brushing RemInder 4 Good Oral HealTh Trial (BRIGHT) SMS Responses
Objectives: The BRIGHT trial is investigating clinical and cost-effectiveness of a two-part complex behaviour change intervention for UK school pupils (11-14 years-old), to increase toothbrushing frequency and reduce caries experience:
1) A classroom-based lesson (CBL) provided by teachers in 42 secondary schools; and
2) SMS (text messages) sent to participants’ mobile phones.
Following the CBL, SMS messages were sent twice daily through secure data management services by University of Dundee’s Health Informatics Centre. Participants ended and restarted reminders by texting “STOP” and “START”. Messages were sent explaining the number was, however, not monitored and there would be no reply. Despite this, some participants still sent other replies. Aim: To analyse text message responses (other than STOP/START) and identify data trends.
Methods: The East of Scotland Research Ethics Committee (17/ES/0096); https://www.fundingawards.nihr.ac.uk/award/15/166/08. Data were collated and analysed in Microsoft Excel. Data items (responses) were categorised and placed into nine themes, thematic analysis completed and trends identified.
Results: Of 2,260 participants sent text messages, there were 8461 responses from 1388 participants (61%). Between one (n=360) and 585 (n=1) SMS text responses per participant were received (mean=6.1; median=3; mode=1) with 1289 “STOP” and 48 “START” messages, leaving 7,124 non-START/STOP responses. Three participants were responsible for 929 responses (585, 192, 152), all of which were affirmative; “OK”, “yes” etc.
59.6% of non-START/STOP responses (4252/7,124) indicated agreement to brush teeth or already brushed. There were almost three times as many “positive” messages (n=454) than “negative” messages (n=175) and 152 questions relating to toothbrushing or the trial process (1.7% of responses).
Conclusions: Although there was no requirement to reply to the brushing reminder texts and no response sent back, young people in the trial felt compelled to affirm their intention or positive action. Most text responses (66%) were positive or indicating agreement that participants would brush/had brushed their teeth.
1) A classroom-based lesson (CBL) provided by teachers in 42 secondary schools; and
2) SMS (text messages) sent to participants’ mobile phones.
Following the CBL, SMS messages were sent twice daily through secure data management services by University of Dundee’s Health Informatics Centre. Participants ended and restarted reminders by texting “STOP” and “START”. Messages were sent explaining the number was, however, not monitored and there would be no reply. Despite this, some participants still sent other replies. Aim: To analyse text message responses (other than STOP/START) and identify data trends.
Methods: The East of Scotland Research Ethics Committee (17/ES/0096); https://www.fundingawards.nihr.ac.uk/award/15/166/08. Data were collated and analysed in Microsoft Excel. Data items (responses) were categorised and placed into nine themes, thematic analysis completed and trends identified.
Results: Of 2,260 participants sent text messages, there were 8461 responses from 1388 participants (61%). Between one (n=360) and 585 (n=1) SMS text responses per participant were received (mean=6.1; median=3; mode=1) with 1289 “STOP” and 48 “START” messages, leaving 7,124 non-START/STOP responses. Three participants were responsible for 929 responses (585, 192, 152), all of which were affirmative; “OK”, “yes” etc.
59.6% of non-START/STOP responses (4252/7,124) indicated agreement to brush teeth or already brushed. There were almost three times as many “positive” messages (n=454) than “negative” messages (n=175) and 152 questions relating to toothbrushing or the trial process (1.7% of responses).
Conclusions: Although there was no requirement to reply to the brushing reminder texts and no response sent back, young people in the trial felt compelled to affirm their intention or positive action. Most text responses (66%) were positive or indicating agreement that participants would brush/had brushed their teeth.