Health Education Tool Research Articles

Global research trends of virtual simulation technology in public health education and training: A visual analysis based on CiteSpace and VOSviewer.

In response to global health challenges, implementing innovative educational strategies is crucial for preparing public health professionals with the required skills. This study employed CiteSpace and VOSviewer to visually analyze 3 decades of research on virtual simulation technology in public health education and training. The visual knowledge map created aimed to uncover the research trends, key areas of interest, and emerging frontiers in this domain. Leveraging the Web of Science core collection database and employing bibliometric methods, the CiteSpace and VOSviewer softwares were used to analyze the annual publication, literature distribution, country/institution distribution, author distribution, co-cited literature, and keywords related to the virtual simulation technology in public health education and training over the past 30 years. A visual map was then created. A total of 1241 research articles were involved in the analysis. The yearly publication count and citations had an overall upward trend, with a significant increase in the number of publications since 2019. The studies in this domain are mainly concentrated in developed countries, particularly in Europe and the United States. The United States emerged as the frontrunner in terms of the number of publications, while both the United Kingdom and the United States exhibited the highest mediation centrality and exerted the greatest international influence. Harvard University made the most substantial contribution with 50 articles and exhibited an institutional cooperation centrality of 0.12. The paper entitled "Using thematic analysis in psychology" had the highest number of citations (28). The primary research hotspots included disaster medicine, telehealth, and virtual reality, while aspects such as digital health, augmented reality, and serious games had consistent continuity. An emerging research frontier, Post-2020, included several topics such as medicine, COVID-19, quality, virtual learning, rehabilitation, depression, and strategy. This study presents the inaugural comprehensive analysis of global trends, hotspots, frontiers, and advancements in the implementation of virtual simulation technology in public health education and training, utilizing CiteSpace and VOSviewer software. The research findings reveal a significant surge in publications since 2019, with a particular emphasis on disaster medicine, telehealth, and virtual reality, indicating the versatility and promise of virtual simulation in the changing educational environments. These findings emphasize the significance of virtual simulation as a dynamic and progressive tool in public health education, proposing a promising direction for future research and practical applications.

Mammography screening among women attending primary healthcare centers in Monastir, Tunisia

Abstract Background Breast cancer is the leading cancer among women worldwide. Early detection through mammography screening improves prognosis and enhances survival rate for this disease. The aim of this study was to identify the factors associated with mammography screening utilization among women attending primary healthcare centers. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in four primary healthcare centers in Monastir governorate in October 2023 using a pre-tested questionnaire. Women aged over 45 years-old were included as they were the target group in the breast cancer screening strategy. Univariate then multivariate analyses were performed in order to identify the factors associated with mammography screening utilization. Data was analyzed by SPSS 21.0. Results A total of 192 women were included in the study with a mean age of 56.7±8.8 years-old. Among them, 79.7 % (n = 153) were married and 51.6% (n = 98) had three children and less. A total of 55.3 % (n = 94) had a primary education level. Regarding participants’ practices of breast cancer screening, 35% of our participants have had mammogram. Univariate analysis showed that the knowledge about breast cancer symptoms (p = 0.015), practicing Breast self-examination (BSE) (p = 0.002), being aware about mammography (p = 0.001) and the recommended age of the screening at 45 years-old (p = 0.001) were significantly associated with adherence to breast cancer screening. Multivariate analysis revealed that practicing BSE (ORa=2.60 [95%CI: 1.22-5.55] and knowing the recommended age of mammography screening (ORa=2.28 [95%CI: 1.17-4.45] were significant (P < 0.05) predictors of mammography screening utilization. Conclusions Mammography screening rate is low. This study had provided some informations about factors influencing mammography screening. Policymakers and public health practitioners should consider the identified factors when developing intervention programs to improve breast cancer screening. Key messages • There is a need to conduct education sessions in schools to raise awareness about breast cancer screening at an early age. • Social media can be a tool for health education on mammography screening.

Development and Implementation of Health Education Tools for Excluded Areas in the Czech Republic

Abstract Background Reducing health inequalities among population groups is imperative, however, health communication strategies tailored to ethnic minorities remain under-researched. To address this issue, various health communication strategies were developed and tested within the 3 year Saste Roma project, focused on improving health literacy and disease prevention in the excluded Czech Roma population. Methods A planning group comprising of doctors, sociologists, psychologists, NGOs and community health workers was established to create tailored health communication tools. The tools were developed with consideration of the sociocultural specifics of the Roma community, using focus groups, in-depth interviews, and the Delphi method. A PR agency was hired to implement the tools. Reach, engagement and Price Per Click = PPC were measured for online tools; feedback on offline tools was collected via surveys and interviews. Results From April 2021 to March 2024, 12 online and offline tools addressing 10 diseases were developed for various age groups and implemented. These tools, such as health literacy brochures and leaflets (78,500 pcs distributed), music videoclips (viewed 150,000 times), a mobile application (with over 500 users), social media profiles dedicated to health (with 140 followers), preventative events, school-based e-learning modules (implemented in 86 elementary schools in excluded areas), online campaigns (reaching 556,337 people; PPC of 0.85 EUR in case of in-house campaign Vs. PPC of 3.21 EUR by PR agency) or poster campaigns (engaging 3,046 individuals) focusing on excluded areas. Lessons This project represents the first extensive use of diverse communication tools targeting the Roma population. The involvement of community representatives (patients, artists, actors, and residents) in tool development is crucial. Training and support for health community workers are essential to achieve effective engagement with the community. Key messages • Tools must be delivered in a culturally sensitive and comprehensible manner by members of the communities. • Commercial PR agencies failed with this specific campaign. Cooperation with Roma artists and influencers is essential.

Preparing for the Implementation of Long-Acting Injectable Cabotegravir for HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Within the Brazilian Public Health System (ImPrEP CAB Brasil): Qualitative Study.

Although long-acting, injectable cabotegravir (CAB-LA) pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has proven efficacious for HIV prevention in clinical trials, research is needed to guide effective implementation in real-world settings. Formative work with community members and health care providers (HCPs) is important to provide insight into the needs and contexts of specific populations and reveal potential barriers and facilitators for implementation projects. We aimed to describe the results from formative work to develop an implementation package for CAB-LA PrEP within the ImPrEP CAB Brasil study. ImPrEP CAB Brasil is an implementation study of same-day delivery of CAB-LA PrEP for young sexual and gender minority (SGM) groups (aged 18-30 years) in 6 existing oral PrEP public health clinics. We conducted formative research to prepare for the implementation of ImPrEP CAB Brasil through community mobilization, process mapping with HCPs with experience in CAB-LA, and focus group discussions (FGDs) with young SGM groups (n=92) and HCPs (n=20) to identify initial perceptions of facilitators and barriers for CAB-LA PrEP implementation, refine the mobile health (mHealth) educational tool, and evaluate the acceptability of using a text message appointment reminder intervention through WhatsApp. FGDs were recorded, transcribed, systematically coded, and analyzed with thematic categorization by trained researchers using a qualitative data analysis program ATLAS.ti (version 7). A community mobilization team comprising 34 SGM community leaders collaborated in creating a prototype for an mHealth educational tool and contributed to the planning of peer education activities. We created 3 process maps for each site to describe the initial visit, follow-up visits, and laboratory flow. The main challenge identified for same-day CAB-LA PrEP delivery was the extended duration of clinic visits due to the numerous laboratory tests and HIV counseling steps required. Proposed solutions included having point-of-care HIV rapid tests instead of laboratory tests and additional counseling staff. Barriers for CAB-LA PrEP implementation identified through FGDs were the training of HCPs, support for adherence to injection appointments, and stigma or discrimination against SGM groups and persons using PrEP. The mHealth educational tool and WhatsApp reminders were highly acceptable by SGM groups and HCPs, indicating their potential to support PrEP choice and adherence. Content analysis on the cultural appropriateness of the language and overall clarity of the material contributed to the refinement of the mHealth tool. Structured formative work with SGM persons and HCPs generated important refinements to context-specific materials and plans to launch ImPrEP CAB Brasil in public health clinics. Ongoing implementation monitoring will use the process maps to identify additional barriers and potential solutions to same-day delivery of CAB-LA PrEP. Summative evaluations are needed to measure the effectiveness of the mHealth educational tool to support PrEP choice and the use of WhatsApp appointment reminders.

Serious Game Development for Public Health: Participatory Design Approach to COVID-19 Quarantine Policy Education.

Public health education plays a crucial role in effectively addressing infectious diseases such as COVID-19. However, existing educational materials often provide only foundational information, and traditional group education faces challenges due to social distancing policies. Addressing these gaps, our study introduces a serious game called "Flattening the Curve." This interactive experience immerses learners in the role of quarantine policy managers, offering unique insights into the effects and challenges of social distancing policies. The development of the game adhered to the SERES framework, ensuring a scientifically designed foundation. To achieve its learning objectives, the game incorporated learning and game mechanics including an agent-based infection model, a social distancing policy model, and an economic model, which were developed based on previous literature. After defining a broad concept of scientific and design foundations, we used a participatory design process. This study included 16 undergraduates and took place over one semester. Participants played the game, gave feedback, and answered surveys. The game was improved based on participants' feedback throughout the process. Participants' feedback was analyzed based on the Design, Play, and Experience framework. Surveys were conducted before and after the activity and analyzed to assess participants' evaluation of and satisfaction with the game. The game successfully achieved its learning objectives, encompassing a comprehensive understanding of infectious disease characteristics; the disease transmission process; the necessity and efficacy of quarantine policies and their delicate balance with economic factors; and the concept of flattening the curve. To achieve this, the game includes the following: (1) an agent-based infection model based on the modified Susceptible-Exposed-Infectious-Hospitalized-Recovered (SEIHR) model with five infectious disease scenarios; (2) a quarantine policy model with social distancing, travel control, and intensive care unit management; and (3) an economic model that allows users to consider the impact of quarantine policies on a community's economy. In response to participatory design feedback, the game underwent meticulous modifications, including refining game systems, parameters, design elements, the user interface, and interactions. Key feedback included requests for more scenarios and engaging yet simple game elements, as well as suggestions for improving the scoring system and design features. Notably, concerns about the fairness of the outcome evaluation system (star rating system), which could incentivize prioritizing economic activity over minimizing casualties, were raised and addressed by replacing the star rating system with a progress-based vaccine development system. Quantitative evaluation results reflect participants' positive assessments of the game through the learner-centric approach. The serious game "Flattening the Curve," developed through a participatory design approach, emerges as a valuable tool for public health education, particularly concerning social distancing policies. The game and its source code are openly accessible online, enabling widespread use for research and educational purposes.

Social Networks as a Tool for Evidence-Based Health Education: Umbrella Review.

The number of people who access social networking sites continues to increase at an exponential rate. The use of technology is an essential skill for nursing professionals and its development represents a challenge in improving health education, promotion and care. The objective of this systematic review is to analyse the use of social networking sites by healthcare professionals as an intervention tool for evidence-based public health education. The protocol of this umbrella review was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD42023407249). Searches were carried out in MEDLINE (PubMed), Web of Science, CINAHL, PsycINFO (EBSCOhost), and Cochrane Library of Systematic Reviews, in February 2023. A narrative synthesis of the results was conducted. 1896 articles were found, of which 15 reviews fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Social networks broadened the profession; they were YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram. The target population was mainly young professionals, and they came across different topic areas that addressed health education. It is important to have information backed by scientific evidence to make health decisions. Health professionals active on social networking sites have a unique opportunity to educate the public about health by sharing scientific evidence in an accessible and clear way, which helps to combat misinformation.

Chatbots for Sexual Health Improvement: A Systematic Review

There is a rising interest in chatbots dedicated to enhancing sexual health. However, there is limited research on the effectiveness of these chatbots, and the current literature lacks sufficient exploration of gaps and patterns in this field. In this review, we provided an overview of the state-of-the-art research conducted on sexual health chatbots, with the goal of identifying prevalent trends, design patterns, and features. In addition, we investigated existing research gaps, challenges, and shortcomings in the landscape of sexual health chatbots. Further, we proposed potential enhancements and directions for future research and development to create more effective chatbots in this field. A systematic search and screening of the literature from the past decade (2013–2023), extracted from seven databases, yielded a total of 1040 studies, out of which 29 articles were included in the final review following screening. The findings suggest that chatbots are usable and effective tools in sexual health education, persuasion, and assistance that are appreciated for their confidentiality, efficiency, and 24/7 availability. However, their performance is hindered by limitations such as restricted scope of knowledge and challenges in understanding user inputs. Additionally, constraints such as text-only input/output modalities and a predominant reliance on the English language limit their accessibility and acceptability. There is also a crucial need for more research in low-income or lower-middle-income countries, where individuals require increased sexual health education and support.

Creation of a medicinal garden at the University Pharmacy of the University of São Paulo guided by the health needs of the local community

Medicinal herbs are widely used to treat diseases since the beginning of time by several populations and cultures and are today an important patient care tool. The project “Farmácia Viva” is a notorious initiative to expand and qualify the use of medicinal herbs in Brazil. The project shares with the University Pharmacy of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of the University of São Paulo (FARMUSP) some of their main objectives, since both carry out multidisciplinary activities that aim to improve the well-being and the quality of life of the local community. Thus, this project aimed to create a medicinal plant garden based on the “Farmácia Viva Type 1” at FARMUSP. The garden was structured based on a survey to understand the health needs of the local community and on a literature review to identify the most suitable species. 28 species were chosen and planted in the garden by the Medicinal Plants Academic League of the University of São Paulo (LAPLAM-USP). The project increased the range of tools for health education through FARMUSP and LAPLAM-USP, since it has already raised activities with students and can raise various social works with the community in the future.

Implementing PDSA Cycles to Expand Reach of Self-Management Education in the Post-COVID Era

ABSTRACT Background COVID-19 reduced participation in our region’s evidence-based chronic disease self-management program (SMP), despite having expanded offerings to include diverse delivery modes (e.g. virtual, mailed toolkit, phone-based group support). Purpose The purpose was to test various approaches of disseminating the mailed toolkit (an independent study version of the SMP) to expand reach of the program. Methods We ran three process improvement (PDSA) cycles. We used electronic health record data, a participant survey, and implementer feedback to guide our decision-making process throughout the iterations. Results Toolkits reached populations that had not previously been exposed to SMPs: individuals with type 2 diabetes who did not attend diabetes education in the past year; individuals being discharged from acute care with an admitting diagnosis related to a chronic disease; and individuals referred by their provider to the program. Discussion Toolkit utilization will remain low for those who are not ready to make a behavior change. Running PDSA cycles provided the necessary information for our team to make decisions about future dissemination of the mailed toolkits. Translation to Health Education Practice Engaging in PDSA cycles can be a helpful tool for health educators when considering how to expand reach or engage new populations of interest.

ChatGPT as a Tool for Oral Health Education: A Systematic Evaluation of ChatGPT Responses to Patients’ Oral Health-related Queries

Abstract Background: ChatGPT holds promise in oral health education, provided valid concerns are proactively examined and addressed. Hence, this study was conducted to evaluate ChatGPT responses to patients’ most common queries about their oral health. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to gather a dataset of oral health-related queries from patients attending a dental institution. The dataset was preprocessed and formatted to remove any irrelevant or duplicate queries. Then, we supplied the dataset to ChatGPT to generate responses. We asked two dental public health experts to independently review the ChatGPT responses for clarity, accuracy, relevance, comprehensiveness, consistency, acceptance, and bias using a 5-point Likert scale. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to evaluate interrater reliability. Scores were summarized using descriptive statistics. Results: A total of 563 oral health-related queries were gathered from 120 patients. After removing the irrelevant or duplicate queries, 105 were included in the final dataset. The ICC value of 0.878 (95% confidence interval range from 0.841 to 0.910) showed good reliability between the reviewers. The majority of ChatGPT responses had a clear understanding (95.24%), were scientifically accurate and relevant to the query (87.62%), were comprehensive (83.81%), were consistent (84.76%), and were acceptable without any edits (86.67%). The reviewers strongly agreed that only 40.96% of the responses had no bias. The overall score was high with a mean value of 4.72 ± 0.30. The qualitative analysis of comments on ChatGPT responses revealed that the responses were rather long and more comprehensive. Conclusions: ChatGPT generated clear, scientifically accurate and relevant, comprehensive, and consistent responses to diverse oral health-related queries despite some significant limitations.

The Importance of Self-Development Podcasts to Improving Mental Health in Generation Z

Objectives: Since the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a global rise in mental health issues within Generation Z who has grown up in a digital age where social media platforms have become an integral part of their lives. Self-development podcasts can be a valuable resource for those, who are seeking support and guidance to improve their mental health and well-being on various platforms. However, there is a shortage of mental health professionals leveraging podcasts as a valuable tool for mental health education and support in the Vietnamese context. Therefore, this article takes the pioneering step by exploring the importance of self-development podcasts to improve mental health in Vietnamese Gen Z.<br /> Methodology: The research employs qualitative research, and data was collected through semi-structured interviews with nine content creators who produce self-development podcast programs in Vietnam.<br /> Results: The results highlight the role of self-development podcasts in improving mental health among Vietnamese Gen Z by analyzing how it is consumed and revealing the multifaceted impact of self-development podcasts on mental health among Vietnamese Gen Z.

The Effects of WeChat-Based Teach-Back Health Education on Patients With Advanced Cancer Pain.

Providing effective health education is essential for patients with cancer-related pain. One solution is leveraging instant messaging tools for teach-back health education. This study investigated the effects of WeChat-based teach-back health education on patients with advanced cancer who underwent patient-controlled intrathecal analgesia implantation and used hydromorphone. This retrospective study evaluated 150 hospitalized patients with advanced cancer pain. Patients were classified into a conventional health education group (N = 50) and a teach-back group (N = 100) based on whether they received WeChat-based teach-back health education. Pain was rated using a numeric rating scale, and sleep quality was measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index at one, two, and three months postdischarge. Patients who received remote teach-back health education better managed their pain. Data also demonstrated improvements in patients' sleep quality and caregiver satisfaction, and reductions in the occurrence of adverse reactions.

Supporting contraceptive self-care and reproductive empowerment with a digital health game in Barbados: Development and Pre-implementation study for What’s My Method?

Effective contraceptive education is essential to reducing unwanted pregnancy, increasing uptake of modern contraceptive methods, and thoughtfully planning desired births. New WHO and family planning organization guidelines recommend situating contraceptive education and counseling within a broader context of self-care that emphasizes individual agency and reproductive empowerment. Digital health interventions, and games for health specifically, have been validated as effective and scalable tools for self-guided and interactive health education, especially among younger tech-savvy individuals. Barbados currently supplements provider-based contraceptive counseling with analog materials (pamphlets and posters) and informational videos that play on a screen in the waiting room. This study seeks to conduct a formative evaluation of the What’s My Method? (WMM) game intervention as a tool to support contraceptive counseling and increase reproductive empowerment among childbearing persons in Barbados. We test-deployed the WMM game in Bridgetown, Barbados, conducting focus groups and sample deployments with prototypes of the WMM game among three groups of stakeholders (youth contraception ambassadors: n=8; healthcare providers: n=7; and nursing students: n=27) to determine acceptability of the intervention, efficacy of the game as a learning tool, and willingness to adopt the tool in their healthcare context. Feedback on acceptability of the game was largely positive. Constructive feedback informed modifications and improvements to the game. Assessment of contraceptive knowledge gain was complicated by several factors and resulted in modifications of the questionnaire and methodology for measurement of efficacy. Results indicate that the WMM game is well-reviewed and accepted by the target audience of childbearing people and healthcare professionals who would be deploying it. The questionnaire did not perform as intended for our target audience. This pilot testing has informed the design and outcome selection for the upcoming RCT with the final version of the game.

Quality of multiple choice question items: item analysis

Background: There are different types of exam formats for educational assessment. Multiple choice questions (MCQs) are frequently utilized assessment tools in health education. Considering the reliability and validity in developing MCQ items is vital. Educators often face the difficulty of developing credible distractors in MCQ items. Poorly constructed MCQ items make an exam easier or too difficult to be answered correctly by students as intended learning objectives. Checking the quality of MCQ items is overlooked and too little is known about it. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the quality of MCQ items using the item response theory model. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among MCQ items of public health courses administered to 2nd year nursing students at Injibara university. A total of 50 MCQ items and 200 alternatives were evaluated for statistical item analysis. The quality of MCQ items was assessed by difficulty index (DIF), discrimination index (DI), and distractor efficiency (DE) using students’ exam responses. Microsoft excel sheet and SPSS version 26 were used for data management and analysis. Results: Post-exam item analysis showed that 11 (22%) and 22 (44%) MCQs had too difficult and poor ranges for difficulty and discriminating powers respectively. The overall DE was 71.3%. About forty (20%) distractors were non-functional. Only 8 (16%) MCQs fulfilled the recommended criteria for all-DIF, DI, and DE parameters. Conclusions: The desirable criteria for quality parameters of MCQ items were satisfied only in a few items. The result implies the need for quality improvement. Continuous trainings are required to improve the instructors’ skills to construct quality educational assessment tools.

The development and impact of an app for a smart drug interaction reminder system.

Improved access to media and medical knowledge has elicited stronger public health awareness. This study developed a smart drug interaction reminder system for patients to increase knowledge and reduce nurse workload. This study used a single-group pre-test/post-test design and applied mining techniques to analyze the weight and probability of interaction among various medicines. Data were collected from 258 participants at a teaching hospital in northern Taiwan using convenience sampling. An app was used to give patients real-time feedback to obtain access to information and remind them of their health issues. In addition to guiding the patients on medications, this app measured the nurses' work satisfaction and patients' knowledge of drug interaction. The results indicate that using information technology products to assist the app's real-time feedback system promoted nurses' work satisfaction, improved their health education skills, and helped patients to better understand drug interactions. Using information technology to provide patients with real-time inquiring functions has a significant effect on nurses' load reduction. Thus, smart drug interaction reminder system apps can be considered suitable nursing health education tools and the SDINRS app can be integrated into quantitative structure-activity relationship intelligence in the future.

Assessing“Breaking Bad News” Communication Competency in Midwifery Students

The communication task of conveying difficult news to patients by health care providers, described in the literature as “breaking bad news,” is one that is often performed poorly. There is, at the same time, a relatively small amount of research in the health sciences education literature devoted to the assessment of this particular competency. Like other health care providers, registered midwives in Canada are expected to have knowledge and skill in this domain of communication. In the Ontario Midwifery Education Program, senior students are expected to develop competence in managing situations involving loss during the childbearing year; however, there is little guidance for preceptors with respect to the assessment of performance for this skill. This article reviews the relevant literature on the assessment of “breaking bad news” and workplace assessment tools in health education, and proposes the use of a clinical encounter card that uses a modified Breaking Bad News Assessment Scale to assist and guide preceptors. Further investigation of the tool’s reliability, validity, and acceptability to preceptors is needed. This article has been peer reviewed.

Project to Reduce the Teenage Pregnancies Through Health Education at MOH Level

Project to Reduce the Teenage Pregnancies Through Health Education at MOH Level

Varicose Vein Education and Informed coNsent (VVEIN) Study: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Feasibility Study

ObjectivesThe primary aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of introducing a digital health education tool (dHET) for varicose vein surgery. MethodsThis randomized, feasibility study allocated 40 patients, into digital Health Education Tool (dHET) (n=20) or Standard Consent (SC) (n=20) groups. Primary outcomes related to feasibility. Secondary outcomes were knowledge recall, anxiety, and satisfaction. ResultsRecruitment and retention rates were 100% and 97.5%, respectively. Acceptability was also rated high, confirming feasibility. There was also no evidence of a difference between groups for early knowledge recall (14 (12-17) vs 14 (11-16); p=0.72) or delayed (at 2 weeks) knowledge recall (15 (13-16) vs 15 (13-16); p=0.89). The dHET module took significantly longer to complete compared to SC (13 min (12-18) vs 9 min (8-12); p<0.01). However, the control group asked significantly more questions about the intended procedure (p=0.03). There was no evidence of a difference between groups for patient anxiety or satisfaction. ConclusionThis trial shows that the addition of a dHET is feasible and non-inferior to standard consent. Digital consent provides a unique opportunity to promote patient education and autonomy for better shared decision making. It also offers better documentation of the consent process.

Social Media as a Virtual Public Sphere in Health Education: A Systematic Review from the Perspective of Habermas' Public Sphere Theory

Social media has become an important platform in health education. It allows individuals to connect and share information about health. However, no studies have systematically explored the role of social media as a virtual public space in health education. This systematic review aims to explore the role of social media as a virtual public sphere in health education, from the perspective of Habermas' public sphere theory. The review was conducted by searching for research articles published in reputable scientific journals between 2010 and 2023. The method used to write this article is a systematic literature review (SLR). The systematic literature review method used in this research is the PRISMA method. Article search, article extraction, and article classification using the Watase UAKE application. The article search was conducted online using two (2) database sources, namely Scopus (Q1-Q4) and Semantic Scholar. The review showed that social media has the potential to be an effective virtual public sphere in health education. This platform can be used to. Increase awareness and understanding of health Provide information and support for individuals in need, strengthen community participation in health education, However, social media also has some limitations in supporting health education. These limitations include: Disinformation and misinformation, Polarization of opinion Conflict of interest. In this review concludes that social media can be a valuable tool for health education. However, it is important to be aware of its limitations and take steps to overcome them.

Oral health care in children with disabilities: A narrative review

Children with disabilities face discrepancies in receiving oral health services due to several barriers. This article aims to provide an overview on the oral health status of children with disabilities, impact on Quality of Life of children with disabilities and their family members, approaches in oral health education and/or services, roles of medical/oral health care providers, carers/parents, and special schools/centres, and future aspiration concerning these children. Articles were searched using online databases (Google Scholar, MEDLINE/PubMed) using various terms. Additional articles were searched manually from the reference list of the previously searched articles. Children with disabilities showed a higher prevalence of caries and periodontal disease and had irregular dental visits owing to the limitations encountered by the carers/parents. The psychological and physical health of carers/parents, and the well-being of children with disabilities are interrelated, suggesting the need for a comprehensive support system to address the specific needs of these groups. Oral hygiene care services for these children could be improved using oral health education tools, strengthening dental outreach programs, and/or adopting behaviour modification techniques. Oral health in children with disabilities is a global concern, therefore a holistic approach addressing this problem from the individual to international level, including interprofessional collaboration is imperative.