The Feasibility and Acceptability of a Mobile Application for Oral Health Education Among Adults in Rwanda

Emmanuel Nzabonimana,1,2 Yolanda Malele-Kolisa,2 Phumzile Hlongwa3 1Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda; 2Department of Community Dentistry, School of Oral Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; 3Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South AfricaCorrespondence: Emmanuel Nzabonimana, Email [email protected]: Mobile technology health application (mobile Apps) can assist people manage their health and wellness, encourage healthy lifestyles, and provide valuable information whenever necessary.Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a mobile App for oral health education among adults in Rwanda.Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. A total of 111 adult participants evaluated the acceptability and feasibility of the BrushDJ mobile App after using it for three months. At the end of this period, an online survey was conducted using a structured questionnaire consisting of questions on demographics, habitual oral health, assessing acceptability, and assessing the feasibility of the mobile App. Descriptive statistics were performed to analyse demographic characteristics, the feasibility and acceptability of the mobile App. Bivariate analysis using the Chi-square test was performed to detect significant associations amongst the variables.Results: The response rate was 81% (n=90) of 111 participants who took part in the study, with the majority of participants 44.44% (n=40) aged between 18 and 27 years old. Just over half of the participants were male 51.11% (n=46). The mobile App was found to be highly acceptable (87.78%; n=79) and considered highly feasible (84.44%; n=76) by most of the participants. The differences in acceptability and feasibility across education levels were statistically significant (p=0.000 for acceptability and p=0.038 for feasibility).Conclusion: The study revealed that the mobile App for oral health education (BrushDJ) was highly acceptable and feasible among the participants. The mobile App had a user-friendly interface and comprehensive guidance on oral hygiene procedures facilitated by its diverse and well-integrated functions.Keywords: mobile technology application, oral health education, adults, feasibility, acceptability, BrushDJ