Telehealth pre-dental visits to reduce barriers for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities
Do Telehealth Dental Interviews Facilitate in Person Clinical Visits for Patients With Complex Medical Needs?
This project tries telehealth pre-dental visits for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities to see if they help meet dental visit goals and improve caregiver and dentist satisfaction.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 50 (estimated) |
| Ages | 12 Years to 18 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Boston University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Boston, Massachusetts) |
| Trial ID | NCT06710483 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This randomized pilot enrolls youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities who have routine pediatric dental appointments at Boston University's pediatric clinic and randomizes them to receive a pre-dental telehealth (PDT) visit or usual care. The intervention uses a remote interview between the dentist, the patient, and the caregiver before the in-person appointment to set goals and prepare for the visit. Outcomes include whether participants achieve the set goals, Likert-scale satisfaction surveys from caregivers and dentists, and qualitative feedback to refine the interview process. The project is conducted at the Goldman School of Dental Medicine in Boston and collects both quantitative and qualitative data to measure acceptance and impact.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Youth with a diagnosed intellectual or developmental disability who have a scheduled routine check-up at the Boston University pediatric dental clinic, an English-speaking caregiver willing to participate, and a participating dental provider.
Not a fit: Patients without an English-speaking caregiver, without access to telehealth technology, or those needing urgent or highly specialized in-person dental care may not benefit from this intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, telehealth pre-dental visits could make dental appointments smoother, increase caregiver and dentist satisfaction, and reduce barriers to routine care for youth with IDD.
How similar studies have performed: Telehealth has shown promise for improving access and satisfaction in related disability and pediatric care settings, but pre-dental telehealth for youth with IDD is relatively under-studied and this pilot is exploratory.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Have an appointment for a routine check up at the Pediatric Clinic or Pediatric Health Center at the Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine * Diagnosis of Intellectual or developmental disability (IDD) * Have a caregiver who is willing to participate in the study * Have a dental provider who is willing to participate in the study * English speaking Exclusion Criteria: * None
Where this trial is running
Boston, Massachusetts
- Goldman School of Dental Medicine — Boston, Massachusetts, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Keri Discepolo, DDS MPH — Goldman School of Dental Medicine
- Study coordinator: Keri Discepolo, DDS MPH
- Email: kdiscep@bu.edu
- Phone: 617-358-6512
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.