Clinical trial NCT03791385: Effectiveness of Picture Exchange Communication System on Gingival Health of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders
Official title: Effectiveness of Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) on Dental Plaque and Gingival Health of Children With Autism
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Autism Spectrum Disorder
Keywords: Autism Spectrum Disorder
Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)
Tooth-brushing program
Gingival index
Plaque index
Lead sponsor: Jordan University of Science and Technology
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2019-01-02
Enrollment: 37
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 4
Maximum age (years): 18
Standard ages: CHILD
ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: NA
Intervention model: SINGLE_GROUP
Intervention model description: Children with ASD ages 4-16 years
Primary purpose: SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Brief summary: The Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) is a communication system for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The aim of this study was to assess the effect of a PECS-based tooth-brushing program on gingival health in children with ASD and assess parents' perception of PECS. This was a prospective interventional study. Using PECS as a pictures/cards series showing a structured tooth-brushing method, 37 children with ASD (31 males, 6 females) (average age 9.49±4.10, 4-16 years) and their parents/caregivers were trained on tooth-brushing twice, two weeks apart. Data collected after examinations (baseline, 3, 6-months) included gingival and plaque indices (GI, PI) and two questionnaires (baseline, 6-months) for demographic data and parents' perception of PECS including: difficulty rating (easy, hard, very hard) and PECS usefulness.

Detailed description: The need for improved oral hygiene routines in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) has been documented in many reports. The Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), which is a series of pictures that show a structured method and technique for teeth brushing, was chosen for this study since it is a proven communication system for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD).

The aim of the study was to assess the effect of a PECS-based tooth-brushing program on gingival health in children with ASD and assess parents' perception of PECS.

This was a prospective interventional study. Using PECS as a pictures/cards series showing a structured tooth-brushing method, 37 children with ASD (31 males, 6 females) (average age 9.49±4.10, 4-16 years) and their parents/caregivers were trained on tooth-brushing twice, two weeks apart. The pictures were placed in the bathroom, at home and/or at the autism center. Data collected after examinations (baseline, 3, 6-months) included gingival and plaque indices (GI, PI) and two questionnaires (baseline, 6-months) for demographic data and parents' perception of PECS including: difficulty rating (easy, hard, very hard) and whether they found PECS useful in teaching their children how to brush their teeth (yes or no).

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Children diagnosed with ASD.
* Age between 4 and 18 years old.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Children unable to cooperate for data collection (poor behavior during dental examination).

Primary outcomes:
measure: Gingival index score
timeFrame: 6 months
measure: Plaque index score
timeFrame: 6 months
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Parents' rating of PECS difficulty
timeFrame: 6 months
measure: PECS usefulness
timeFrame: 6 months
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Irbid
country: Jordan
facility: Jordan University of Science and Technology
Study officials:
affiliation: Jordan University of Science and Technology
name: Ola B Al-Batayneh
role: STUDY_DIRECTOR
References:
citation: Pilebro C, Backman B. Teaching oral hygiene to children with autism. Int J Paediatr Dent. 2005 Jan;15(1):1-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-263X.2005.00589.x.
citation: Charlop-Christy MH, Carpenter M, Le L, LeBlanc LA, Kellet K. Using the picture exchange communication system (PECS) with children with autism: assessment of PECS acquisition, speech, social-communicative behavior, and problem behavior. J Appl Behav Anal. 2002 Fall;35(3):213-31. doi: 10.1901/jaba.2002.35-213.
citation: Lerna A, Esposito D, Conson M, Massagli A. Long-term effects of PECS on social-communicative skills of children with autism spectrum disorders: a follow-up study. Int J Lang Commun Disord. 2014 Jul-Aug;49(4):478-85. doi: 10.1111/1460-6984.12079. Epub 2014 Mar 21.
citation: Eslami N, Movahed T, Asadi M. Parents' Perceptions of the Oral Health-related Quality of Life of their Autistic Children in Iran. J Clin Pediatr Dent. 2018;42(6):422-426. doi: 10.17796/1053-4625-42.6.3. Epub 2018 Aug 7.