Clinical Trial

Dr Thumb held a clinical trial at Yonsei University, University Dental Hospital from 29 October to 25 November 2001. The results are detailed below. 

Test Subjects

• Sex ratio:
  Female: 60% (15 children)
  Male:  40% (10 children)

• Age ratio:
  12 months to 20 months old: 28% (7 children)
  21 months to 30months old: 40% (10 children)
  30 months or older: 32% (8 children)

 

1. What were the effects of using Dr Thumb for 2 weeks?

1) The thumb sucking habit has completely stopped: 24% (6 children)
2) Frequency of thumb-sucking has decreased: 68% (17 children)
3) No effect: 8% (2 children)
4) Frequency of thumb-sucking has increased: 0%

 

2. What were the effects of using Dr Thumb for 4 weeks?

1) The thumb sucking habit has completely stopped: 92% (23 children)
2) Frequency of thumb sucking has decreased: 8% (2 children)
3) No effect: 0%
4) Frequency of thumb-sucking has increased: 0%

 

3. Of those that found Dr Thumb to break the habit, how long did it take?

1) Within 1 week: 14% (3 children)
2) Within 2 weeks: 30% (7 children)
3) Within 3 weeks: 35% (8 children)
4) Within 4 weeks: 21% (5 children)

 

4. What were the children's reaction when wearing Dr Thumb?

1) Wears Dr Thumb without any reaction: 20% (5 children)
2) Complained at first but no reaction within 1-2 days: 44% (11 children)
3) Complained throughout the process: 16% (4 children)
4) Sucks on the thumb that isn’t fitted with Dr Thumb: 20% (5 children)

Parents of 4 from the 5 children that began to suck their other thumb advised that their children tend to suck their thumbs interchangeably, showing little preference for one thumb over another. After continuing the trial with Dr Thumb on both thumbs, 4 of these 5 children had broken the habit and are included in the 92% success rate as above.

 

5. If you were to purchase Dr Thumb, which location would be the most convenient to buy it?

1) The high street: 36% (9 parents)
2) Retail parks: 36% (9 parents)
3) Online: 28% (7 parents)

 

6. As a parent with a child who sucked their thumb, what are your thoughts on Dr Thumb?

1) Fantastic: 72% (18 parents)
2) Great: 20% (5 parents)
3) Good: 0%
4) OK: 4% (1 parent)
5) Needs improving: 4% (1 parent)
6) Poor. Does little to break the habit: 0%

 

Conclusion

Dr Thumb helped 92% of participants break their thumb sucking habit. Among those who didn’t fully break the habit within four weeks, there was still a significant improvement, and parents were confident it would stop with continued use. No adverse effects were reported.