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The Early Childhood Oral Health Program: promoting prevention and timely intervention of early childhood caries in NSW through shared care
Author(s) -
Maher Louise,
Phelan Claire,
Lawrence Glenda,
Dawson Angela,
Torvaldsen Siranda,
Wright Clive
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
health promotion journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.515
H-Index - 32
eISSN - 2201-1617
pISSN - 1036-1073
DOI - 10.1071/he12171
Subject(s) - early childhood caries , medicine , referral , public health , health promotion , nursing , population health , family medicine , community health , intervention (counseling) , health policy , early childhood , general partnership , health care , oral health , psychology , developmental psychology , finance , economics , economic growth
Issue addressed Early childhood caries (ECC) continues to have high prevalence worldwide, despite being largely preventable. The Early Childhood Oral Health (ECOH) Program was established in New South Wales (NSW) using a model of shared responsibility for oral health, which involves a partnership between child health professionals, oral health professionals and parents of young children, to facilitate the primary prevention, early identification and early intervention of ECC. Methods An evaluation of the ECOH program was conducted, using mixed methods. Data were obtained through document review, surveys and interviews with program implementers, and analysis of the Information System for Oral Health (ISOH) database for public oral health services activity in NSW. Results Key achievements of the ECOH program include the establishment of governance mechanisms, policy, structures and responsibilities for implementation, support mechanisms for child health professionals, referral processes, communications resources, and the delivery of training. Parents receive oral health information, education and support through written resources and contact with child health professionals. Child and family health nurses interviewed reported routinely incorporating oral health promotion and early identification for ECC into their practices. The referral rate to public oral health services for children under five years of age by community health professionals has increased steadily since the program began, with the rate in 2009 five times higher than in 2007. Conclusions Models of shared responsibility for oral health between parents, child health professionals and oral health professionals can facilitate primary prevention and early intervention for ECC. So what? Child health professionals are well placed to positively influence parental knowledge and behaviour to achieve oral health outcomes in young children. Child oral health services can be re‐oriented towards empowering parents in early childhood oral health promotion, which facilitates primary prevention, early identification and intervention for early childhood caries.