Developing Stakeholder‐Informed Content for a Mobile Application to Prevent Early Childhood Caries Using a Theory‐Driven Approach: A Qualitative Study

BACKGROUND: Early childhood caries (ECC) is a major global oral health issue impacting children under 6 years of age, often resulting in a reduced quality of life. AIM: To develop content for a mobile application (app) designed to provide sustained anticipatory guidance (SAG) for ECC prevention. DESIGN: A qualitative study involved parents of children aged 0-3 years, with and without ECC, and healthcare providers (HCPs). Data were collected through 24 semi-structured interviews (SSIs) and two focus group discussions (FGDs) with parents and 15 virtual SSIs with HCPs. Guides were developed using the Fisher-Owens model and the theory of planned behaviour that facilitated data collection. Sessions were recorded with consent, transcribed verbatim and coded using NVivo 1.7.2. RESULTS: Thematic analysis provided insights for developing app content that comprised the domains of oral development, oral hygiene, dietary/feeding practices and fluoride adequacy. Parents (n = 38) and HCPs (n = 15) emphasised interactive features, video demonstrations, brushing reminders and culturally appropriate educational content. CONCLUSIONS: The study established a robust framework for a mobile health (mHealth) platform by providing stakeholder-informed content for a mobile app. This foundation might enhance future app development, providing SAG and evaluation.