IADR Abstract Archives
Impact of a Culturally Adapted Oral Health Intervention on Immigrant Parents’ Perceptions
Objectives: This is a randomized cluster study aimed to assess the impact of a culturally adapted intervention on immigrant parents’ oral health-related knowledge, attitudes, and indulgence regarding their children’s oral health.
Methods: Immigrant parents with new-born infants attending 7 geographically distributed health centres in Bergen, Norway were included in the study. Data on oral health knowledge, attitudes, and indulgence was assessed through structured questionnaires at baseline (0-6 months after birth) and follow-up (18-24 months after birth). Summary- and mean change summary scores were calculated for the outcome variables. Group differences in mean change scores were calculated by independent sample T-test. The intervention group (50.7% of participants) received 2 sessions at baseline and 6 months after. The intervention was in the form of oral health information translated to the participants’ mother tongue (30-minute individual presentation, practical demonstration of tooth brushing techniques and a pamphlet with similar information). The control group received conventional oral health information.
Results: Participants were equally distributed, socioeconomically, between the intervention and control groups at baseline (n=345) and follow-up (n=212). Knowledge, attitudes, and indulgence improved between baseline and follow-up in the intervention and control groups. Regarding knowledge, the intervention group improved more than the control group in terms of mean change scores (standard deviation), 1.2 (2.9) and 0.8 (2.7), respectively. The control group improved more than the intervention group with mean change scores regarding attitude to oral hygiene [1.8 (4.9) versus 0.5 (4.4)], attitude to diet [1.3 (2.7) versus 0.5 (2.7), p<0.05] and indulgence [-1.4 (2.6) versus -0.5 (3.8)].
Conclusions: The culturally adapted 2-session intervention had a limited effect on immigrant parents’ oral health-related knowledge, attitudes, and indulgence. Involvement of staff members of the Child Health Care Centres in the provision of culturally adapted interventions at multiple intervals might improve the impact on immigrant parents’ oral health perceptions.
Methods: Immigrant parents with new-born infants attending 7 geographically distributed health centres in Bergen, Norway were included in the study. Data on oral health knowledge, attitudes, and indulgence was assessed through structured questionnaires at baseline (0-6 months after birth) and follow-up (18-24 months after birth). Summary- and mean change summary scores were calculated for the outcome variables. Group differences in mean change scores were calculated by independent sample T-test. The intervention group (50.7% of participants) received 2 sessions at baseline and 6 months after. The intervention was in the form of oral health information translated to the participants’ mother tongue (30-minute individual presentation, practical demonstration of tooth brushing techniques and a pamphlet with similar information). The control group received conventional oral health information.
Results: Participants were equally distributed, socioeconomically, between the intervention and control groups at baseline (n=345) and follow-up (n=212). Knowledge, attitudes, and indulgence improved between baseline and follow-up in the intervention and control groups. Regarding knowledge, the intervention group improved more than the control group in terms of mean change scores (standard deviation), 1.2 (2.9) and 0.8 (2.7), respectively. The control group improved more than the intervention group with mean change scores regarding attitude to oral hygiene [1.8 (4.9) versus 0.5 (4.4)], attitude to diet [1.3 (2.7) versus 0.5 (2.7), p<0.05] and indulgence [-1.4 (2.6) versus -0.5 (3.8)].
Conclusions: The culturally adapted 2-session intervention had a limited effect on immigrant parents’ oral health-related knowledge, attitudes, and indulgence. Involvement of staff members of the Child Health Care Centres in the provision of culturally adapted interventions at multiple intervals might improve the impact on immigrant parents’ oral health perceptions.