460 Participants NeededMy employer runs this trial

Health Education for Tooth Decay

(MAP-CH Trial)

CF
AK
Overseen ByAlison Karasz, PhD
Age: < 65
Sex: Any
Trial Phase: Academic
Sponsor: University of Massachusetts, Worcester

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to improve oral and general child health among Bangladeshi families. It will test the Mothers' Action Project for Child Health, which provides mothers with dentist referrals, educational materials, and in-person health education sessions. The program focuses on building social networks among mothers to support healthy practices. Mothers who are primary caretakers, born in a South Asian country, and have young children aged 1 to 4 years may be suitable for this trial.

As an unphased trial, this study offers participants a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative health solutions for their community.

What prior data suggests that this health education intervention is safe for participants?

Research shows that the Mothers' Action Project for Child Health aims to reduce tooth decay in children by educating mothers. The program provides educational materials about child feeding and oral health, offers in-person health education sessions, and helps mothers build social networks.

This type of educational program is generally very safe. Previous studies, such as the Mothers and Youth Access (MAYA) Project, have shown that similar programs are well-received and have not reported any negative effects. These programs mainly involve sharing knowledge and community support, which do not carry physical risks.

While specific safety data for this exact program is unavailable, its focus on education and support suggests it is safe. These activities are not usually associated with negative side effects.12345

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Health Education for Tooth Decay trial because it goes beyond the usual approaches of just providing referrals and educational materials. This trial includes in-person health education sessions and social network building, which aim to empower mothers with practical skills and community support. Unlike standard treatments that might focus solely on dental care or nutrition, this approach integrates personal interaction and community involvement to potentially foster sustainable, long-term oral health habits in children.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for tooth decay?

This trial will evaluate the effectiveness of the Mothers' Action Project for Child Health in improving children's oral health. Research has shown that when mothers learn about dental care, their children's oral health improves. Studies have found that children whose mothers understand dental health well are less likely to get cavities. One study discovered that children are over three times more likely to have cavities if their mothers have untreated cavities. Programs that teach mothers about dental care and encourage regular dentist visits can help keep children's teeth healthy. This evidence suggests that providing mothers with the right knowledge can greatly reduce tooth decay in their children. Participants in the intervention arm of this trial will receive referrals to vetted dentists, educational materials on child feeding and oral health, in-person health education sessions, and social network building. Meanwhile, the control arm will receive referrals to vetted dentists and educational materials on child feeding and oral health.12456

Who Is on the Research Team?

AK

Alison Karasz

Principal Investigator

UMass Chan

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

Inclusion Criteria

I am between 12 and 48 months old and have Medicaid or CHIP insurance.
I am 18-45, speak Bengali or Hindi/Urdu, and my mother from South Asia is my main caretaker.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks
Home visits for eligibility assessment

Intervention

Mothers participate in a 12-month, multi-session, group-based intervention to improve child health and oral health education

12 months
18 sessions in participant homes

Control

Mothers in the control arm receive packages and mailings with educational materials

12 months

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for outcomes such as dental health and weight gain velocity

6 months
Data collection at 12 and 18 months post baseline

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

  • Mothers' Action Project for Child Health

How Is the Trial Designed?

2

Treatment groups

Experimental Treatment

Placebo Group

Group I: Intervention armExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Group II: Control ArmPlacebo Group1 Intervention

Find a Clinic Near You

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Massachusetts, Worcester

Lead Sponsor

Trials
372
Recruited
998,000+

National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)

Collaborator

Trials
312
Recruited
853,000+

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Collaborator

Trials
2,896
Recruited
8,053,000+

Citations

Mothers' Action Project for Child Health (MAP-CH)

Dental caries assessments will occur at baseline and T3. Analyses: The primary outcome is reduced d2-4mfs increment at 18 months' post baseline in the ...

Oral Health of Women and Children: Progress, Challenges ...

According to national survey data, about 26% of working-age adults had untreated tooth decay. Overall, significant oral health disparities by ...

Early Childhood Caries Prevention: Effectiveness of Mother ...

A type of clinical study in which participants are identified as belonging to study groups and are assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.

Assessing the Relationship Between Children's Oral ...

Children of mothers who had high levels of untreated caries were more than three times as likely (odds ratio [OR], 3.5; 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 2.0 ...

Dental Public Health Activities & Practices

The Mothers and Youth Access (MAYA) Project was a randomized clinical trial that began in 2002. The study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a prevention ...

Promoting Oral Health in Young Children

It discusses the prevalence of tooth decay in children, the effectiveness of prevention and early intervention, the consequences of delaying treatment, and ...