iSmile

The aim of this study was to test the effect of a parent-targeted text message program to improve early childhood caries and oral health behaviors among underserved children attending one of four pediatric primary care clinics.  This randomized clinical trial with 754 families was preceeded by a pilot RCT and extensive co-development using mixed methods (focus groups, interviews, surveys), and field testing with the target population. This project was funded by the NIDCR (Borrelli & Henshaw, MPIs). 

Borrelli B., Endrighi R., Heeren T., Adams W.G., Gansky S.A., Werntz S., Rueras N., Stephens D., Ameli N., Henshaw M.M. (2025). Parent-Targeted Oral Health Text Messaging for Underserved Children Attending Pediatric Clinics: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Network Open, 8(1):e2452780. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.52780. PMID: 39745701; PMCID: PMC11696445.

Borrelli, B., Henshaw, M., Endrighi, R., Adams, W. G., Heeren, T., Rosen, R., Bock, B., & Werntz, S. (2019). An interactive parent-targeted text messaging intervention to improve oral health in children attending urban pediatric clinics: Feasibility randomized controlled trial. Journal of Medical Internet Research mHealth and uHealth, 7(11), e14247. doi:10.2196/14247. PMID: 31710306.