Smartphone-based application for EMA assessment of awake bruxism: compliance evaluation in a sample of healthy young adults

Abstract

Objective A smartphone-based ecological momentary assessment (EMA) strategy to collect real time data on awake bruxism (AB) has been recently introduced. The aim of this study was to assess the compliance with its use over 1 week in a sample of healthy young adults. Method Sixty (N = 60) healthy young adults (mean age 24.2 ± 4.1 years) used a dedicated smartphone application that sent 20 alerts at random times throughout the day. Upon alert receipt, the subjects had to report in real time their condition among five possible options: relaxed jaw muscles, teeth contact, teeth clenching, teeth grinding, and mandible bracing. Compliance rate with the app was assessed at the individual and group level in terms of percentage of answered alerts as well as number of days that were needed to reach the targeted observation period of 7 days with a compliance of at least 60%. ResultsThe mean compliance recorded with the smartphone application was 67.8% of the total alerts. On average, 9.8 ± 3.2 days (range 7-19) have been necessary to achieve the targeted goal of 7 days with a minimum of 60% alerts/day. No gender differences were detected in any compliance data. Response rate was not different during weekdays or weekends. Conclusions This investigation is the first attempt to assess individual compliance with EMA for reporting awake bruxism. Results suggest that a smartphone-based strategy can have interesting potential. The compliance rate reported in this study will serve as a comparison standpoint for future investigations. Clinical significance Based on the recent multidisciplinary focus on the study of awake bruxism, EMA has emerged as a potential approach for use in the clinical and research settings. This investigation suggests that compliance with such strategy is good, thus making it worthy of adoption for the assessment of AB and its clinical implications.

Frequency of awake bruxism behaviour in orthodontic patients: Randomised clinical trial: Awake bruxism behaviour in orthodontic patients

“…These values were lower than the mean response rate of 82.1 ± 9.2% from 15 alerts per day found in another study, 17 yet they are in agreement with the mean compliance rate per day of 60% of alerts, with a minimum of 12 daily alerts. 6 The evaluation of AB behaviours in this follow-up period of 6 months resulted in a mean total frequency of 53.5% and 51.3%…”

“…25 Most reports in the literature about the frequency of AB were obtained by cross-sectional and retrospective self-reports 8 ; however, due to the risk of memory bias of patients and lack of information on their frequency, other diagnostic means were developed. 17,26 In order to minimise the risk of bias, we assess AB frequency applying the EMA as reported in most recent TA B L E 1 Comparison between the two groups regarding age, Little's irregularity index, Par index, degree of anxiety, stress, hypervigilance, catastrophising and facial pain, before appliance placement 6,17,18,26 The mean total response rate to the 10 alerts sent was 71.52%, being similar between the two groups: 72.88% for group OA and 70.16% for group FA. These values were lower than the mean response rate of 82.1 ± 9.2% from 15 alerts per day found in another study, 17 yet they are in agreement with the mean compliance rate per day of 60% of alerts, with a minimum of 12 daily alerts.…”

“…1 Awake bruxism (AB) may be associated with several psychosocial factors, such as anxiety, 2,3 stress 3,4 and hypervigilance, 5 and its most important effects are tooth wear, orofacial pain symptoms, periodontal disease, tooth fracture and/or breakage of dentures. 2 Most studies have focused on the study of sleep bruxism (SB), 6,7 while knowledge about awake bruxism is still fragmented. 6 The prevalence of AB in adults varies from 22% to 30% and SB from 1% to 15%.…”

“…2 Most studies have focused on the study of sleep bruxism (SB), 6,7 while knowledge about awake bruxism is still fragmented. 6 The prevalence of AB in adults varies from 22% to 30% and SB from 1% to 15%. 7 This high prevalence of AB affects more than one-third of the population, especially young adult individuals, which is considered an age group frequently present in orthodontic practices.…”

Awake Bruxism – Definition Through Self-report and Through Ecological Momentary Assessment

“…Recently, a new semi-instrumental approach was suggested, viz., an Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA), with the use of a smartphone. A specific application was developed as an option for multiple-point real-time subjective report about masticatory muscle activity during wakefulness [12][13][14][15].…”