Awareness of Dental Outreach Camps and Perceptions Toward Mobile Phone-Based Communication Among Dental Outreach Camp Attendees in Chennai: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Dental outreach camps are an important public health strategy for improving access to oral healthcare; however, their effectiveness depends on timely awareness and effective communication. Evidence on patients’ awareness pathways and acceptance of mobile phone-based communication in urban and semi-urban settings remains limited. Objectives: This study aimed to (1) assess the sources and timing of awareness of dental outreach camps among attendees; (2) evaluate advance awareness of services provided; (3) assess expectations regarding services offered; (4) evaluate perceptions and willingness toward mobile phone-based communication for outreach information, reminders, and registration; and (5) examine, as a secondary objective, the association between age group and willingness toward mobile phone-based communication among outreach camp attendees in Chennai. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted among 250 adults attending five dental outreach camps in rural and semi-urban areas of Chennai between September 2025 and October 2025. Data were collected using a QR code-based electronic survey. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square/Fisher’s exact tests were used, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Results: Word of mouth was the predominant source of awareness (66.8%), with 67.2% of participants learning about the camp on the same day. Only 36.0% were aware of the services offered in advance. Among smartphone-owning participants, acceptance of mobile phone-based communication was high for receiving information (75.6%), reminders (74.8%), registration (72.0%), and locating camps (76.0%), though these figures may overestimate acceptance in the broader outreach population given the smartphone-based recruitment method. Younger age groups showed significantly greater willingness toward mobile-based communication (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Despite predominantly last-minute interpersonal awareness, high acceptance of mobile phone-based communication among smartphone-owning attendees suggests potential for integrating digital strategies with traditional community-based approaches to strengthen dental outreach programs, pending broader population-level validation.