Comparative Analysis of App-based Oral Motor Therapy and Behavior Therapy for Reducing Stress and Enhancing Coping Skills in Caregivers of Children with Cerebral Palsy Using "SCATOCS".

BACKGROUND

Parents and caregivers of children with cerebral palsy (CP) often experience the varied levels of stress while managing their child's oral health care. Limited research regarding this topic emphasizes the need for a study.

AIM

To compare the efficacy of effect of app-based oral motor therapy (OMT) and behavior therapy (BT) on stress and coping among parents/caregivers of children with CP; specifically with regard to the management of oral health care.

SETTINGS AND DESIGN

It is a randomized, double blinded, parallel group, multicenter trial.

METHODS

The study comprised of 228 CP children aged 4-14 years who were randomly assigned into two groups - Group 1 (mobile app based OMT) and Group 2 (BT). The parents and caregivers of children with CP were asked to fill the Stress and Coping Assessment Tool associated with maintaining Oral health among Children with Special healthcare needs (SCATOCS) questionnaire. Baseline evaluations before interventions and follow-up scores postinterventions (6 months later) were done.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

The paired samples t -test and independent samples t -test were utilized for the study. Analysis was done using the SPSS software version 25 and results were considered statistically significant whenever P ≤ 0.05.

RESULTS

Intragroup comparison of SCATOCS scores in each domain showed a statistically significant ( P < 0.05) improvement postintervention in both the groups. Intergroup comparison showed a statistically significant difference between the groups with respect to A1 and A2 domains (stress factors), respectively ( P < 0.05), while no significant differences were observed in B1 and B2 domains (coping factors) ( P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

"SCATOCS" can be used as important tool while specifically investigating stress and coping with regard to dental concerns.