Interaction Training for Childhood Behavior

(DCIT Trial)

Not yet recruiting at 3 trial locations

Overseen By Mary L Davis, CRDH

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Florida

Disqualifiers: Cognitive impairment, Autism, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 3

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to enhance how dental providers interact with young children and their caregivers during dental visits. It employs a special training program called Dental-Child Interaction Training, which is based on the well-known behavior management technique, Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). This program helps dentists, hygienists, and assistants improve their skills. The study seeks to determine if the training alters dental providers' behavior and if they find it useful. Dental providers who work with or are open to working with children aged 2-10 may be suitable for this trial. Participants will be videotaped for the study and must be comfortable with this. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to enhance skills and positively impact young patients' dental experiences.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial protocol does not specify whether participants need to stop taking their current medications.

What prior data suggests that this training is safe for dental providers and children?

Research has shown that the Dental-Child Interaction Training aims to enhance how dental providers engage with young children. This training draws inspiration from Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), a well-established program for managing preschoolers' behavior. While specific safety data for this training is unavailable, it emphasizes positive methods and avoids negative or harmful approaches. The training is hands-on, interactive, and skill-based, enabling providers to practice until these skills become second nature. As a behavioral training rather than a medical treatment, it does not carry the same safety risks as drug trials and is generally considered safe for participants. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Interaction Training for Childhood Behavior trial because it focuses on enhancing the skills of dental professionals in managing child behavior during dental visits. Unlike typical methods that might rely heavily on parental involvement or sedation, this approach trains dentists, hygienists, and assistants through interactive workshops with simulated patients. The key difference is the emphasis on "over-practice" to instill these skills to the point of habit, potentially leading to a more positive dental experience for children and reducing anxiety. By understanding developmentally-appropriate behavior, providers can offer a more supportive and effective environment for young patients.

What evidence suggests that this training is effective for improving dental provider interactions with children?

Research shows that Dental-Child Interaction Training (DCIT) builds on proven methods from Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), which improves behavior management in young children. Studies have found that teaching dental providers these interaction skills helps them manage young patients aged 2-10 more effectively. In this trial, participants in the Immediate Intervention Group will attend hands-on workshops that mimic real-life situations, allowing providers to practice these skills until they become second nature. The Delayed Intervention Group will receive the same training two months later. Early results suggest that this training leads to better interactions with children and their caregivers, making dental visits less stressful and more productive. While specific data on DCIT's effectiveness is still being gathered, the strong foundation from PCIT supports its potential benefits. ^{1 2 4 6 7}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Daniel W McNeil, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Florida

Cheryl B McNeil, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Florida

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for dental providers (dentists, hygienists, assistants) who treat or are willing to treat children aged 2-10 and can communicate in English. They must be open to being videotaped. Parents/caregivers involved need to understand English and agree to study procedures.

Inclusion Criteria

I am willing to be videotaped for the study.

Criterion: You must be a certified dentist, dental hygienist, or dental assistant.

This criterion refers to the parents or caregivers of the participants in the clinical trial.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Training Workshop

Dental providers participate in an 8-hour workshop involving didactics and practice with simulated child patients to learn DCIT skills.

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Immediate Post-Workshop Assessment

Assessment of dental providers' usage of DCIT behavioral methods immediately after the workshop.

Immediately post-workshop

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for skill retention and effectiveness of training at 2 and 6 months post-workshop.

6 months

2 visits (in-person)

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Dental-Child Interaction Training

Trial Overview The trial tests a workshop training program aimed at improving how dental providers interact with young children and their parents. It's based on Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). Providers are split into two groups: one gets immediate training, the other delayed.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Immediate Intervention Group Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Experiential, interactive, skills-oriented workshop for oral healthcare providers (i.e., dentists, hygienists, and assistants) involving simulated patients and immediate pre- and post-workshop testing. The workshop involves didactics on developmentally-appropriate child behavior in the dental setting, and "over-practice" of skills, to the point of habit, by providers.

Group II: Delayed Intervention Group Active Control 1 Intervention

The delayed intervention group will receive the same experiential, interactive, skills-oriented workshop, but two months after the immediate intervention group.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Florida

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,428

Recruited

987,000+

National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)

Collaborator

Trials

312

Recruited

853,000+

Citations

1. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06138405?spons=National%20institute%20of%20Dental%20and%20Craniofacial%20Research%20(NIDCR)&aggFilters=status:&viewType=Table&rank=7

Dental-Child Interaction Training (DCIT) Researchers will compare the immediate intervention and control group to see if the training was effective in the dental providers usage of skills. Detailed ...

2. reporter.nih.gov reporter.nih.gov/search/fZ9-vDpD-0i1N51cO_h39Q/project-details/10504763

Implementing Evidence-based Behavioral - NIH RePORTER The goal of this line of research is to measure the mechanisms involved in the effectiveness of this training on dental provider utilization of these skills, ...

3. carequest.org carequest.org/about/blog-post/voices-field-mary-lynne-davis-improving-pediatric-oral-health-outcomes

Improving Pediatric Oral Health DCIT focuses on teaching evidence-based interactional skills to dental providers working with children ages 2–10.

4. trial.medpath.com trial.medpath.com/clinical-trial/cb9111136090ace0/nct06138405-evidence-based-behavioral-skills-pediatric-oral-healthcare

Dental-Child Interaction Training | MedPath Researchers will compare the immediate intervention and control group to see if the training was effective in the dental providers usage of skills. ... Outcome ...

5. cohorts.dental.ufl.edu cohorts.dental.ufl.edu/research/

Active Grants: Behavioral Research The goal of this line of research is to measure the mechanisms involved in the effectiveness of this training on dental provider utilization of these skills, ...

6. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-behavior-and-behavior-mechanisms-9-2024-f33a0

Interaction Training for Childhood Behavior (DCIT Trial) The research does not provide specific safety data for Interaction Training for Childhood Behavior, but it emphasizes the importance of non-aversive techniques ...

7. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11426766/

Impact of Parental Involvement on Child Compliance ... This research provides evidence of the positive impact of parental involvement on child compliance during dental procedures in pediatric patients.