JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Helminths are a major global health issue, impacting health, educational and socioeconomic outcomes. Infections, often starting in childhood, are linked to anaemia, malnutrition, cognitive deficit, and in chronic cases of Opisthorchis viverrini, cholangiocarcinoma. The main control strategy for helminth infection is mass drug administration, however this does not prevent re-infection. As such, prevention strategies are needed. The "Magic Glasses" is a school-based cartoon health education package that has demonstrated success in improving knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) surrounding soil-transmitted helminths in China and the Philippines. This study is designed to assess the acceptability and impact of the "Magic Glasses" education package in the Lower Mekong Basin, comprised of two new versions of the Magic Glasses designed for the Lower Mekong audience in Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Thailand.

Objective:

This study aims to evaluate the acceptability and impact of the "Magic Glasses Lower Mekong" and "Magic Glasses Opisthorchiasis" education packages.

Methods:

Using a cluster randomized controlled (cRCT) with intervention and control arms, the intervention will be trialed in rural schools in Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Thailand. Schoolchildren’s initial acceptability of the intervention will be evaluated using an adapted questionnaire. Sustained acceptability will be assessed at follow-up through focus group discussions (FGDs) with students and interviews with teachers. Impact will be evaluated by KAP questionnaires on soil-transmitted helminths (STH) and Opisthorchis viverrini (OV). KAP questionnaires will be administered to children at baseline and at follow-up. Indirect impact on parents' KAP of OV and STH will be assessed through FGDs at follow-up.

Results:

The results of the study are expected to be available 18 months from the start of recruitment. We hypothesize that participants enrolled in the intervention arm of the study will have higher KAP scores for STH and OV at follow-up, compared with the follow-up outcomes of participants in the control arm, and that the "Magic Glasses: Lower Mekong" and "Magic Glasses Opisthorchiasis" intervention packages will be acceptable to students.

Conclusions:

This trial will examine the acceptability of the "Magic Glasses Opisthorchiasis" and "Magic Glasses Lower Mekong" interventions and provide evidence on the effectiveness of the "Magic Glasses" on KAP related to Opisthorchis viverrini and soil-transmitted helminths among schoolchildren in the Lower Mekong Basin. Study results will provide insight on acceptability and impact indicators and inform a scaling up protocol for the "Magic Glasses" education packages in Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Thailand. Clinical Trial: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR): ACTRN12623000271606. Prospectively registered 13 March 2023.