Methods: The training program concentrated on how AHWs can help mothers to look after their children’s teeth by controlling bottle use especially at night, avoiding sugary drinks in a bottle, safe snacking behaviors and issuing of training cups and fluoride toothpaste and brushes for all the family. Each AHW was supplied with a manual covering all aspects of the program together with oral health advice leaflets. Questionnaires to evaluate the training program were completed anonymously by the AHWs who participated. The topics investigated were cultural acceptability, resources provided for the program, course content, ease of use and any concerns.
Results: Seven Aboriginal Health Services in rural, remote and metropolitan areas of New South Wales, Australia agreed to release staff to participate in the training program. 25 AHWs attended the training and all of them were impressed with the cultural integrity of the program and thought it was acceptable for use in their communities. 23 (92%) liked the resources, especially the graphics used and the emphasis on pictorial messages rather than text. All of them felt that the simple messages related to bottle use and brushing teeth were achievable and sustainable and thought the health promotion program would be easy to use in their day-to-day family visits. The training program increased their reported oral health knowledge (100%) and gave them confidence to offer oral health advice (100%). Everyone disliked the research component as it involved a lengthy consent process when recruiting families.
Conclusion: The training program was culturally acceptable to the AHWs who are going to deliver the intervention and they thought it would be easy to use.