IADR Abstract Archives
Implementing Child Oral Health Initiative (COHI): a Proactive Approach to Improve Primary Health Care System.
Objectives: Early childhood caries (ECC) is one of the most important health concerns in Saudi Arabia. The estimated prevalence of caries among Saudi children aged 5-7 years and 12-15 years is 84% and 72%, respectively. The burden of ECC is substantial when considering clinical outcomes and treatment costs. Oral health is an integral part of general health, and primary healthcare providers have a unique opportunity to contribute to the primary prevention of ECC. This project aims to incorporate the Child Oral Health Initiative (COHI) into pediatric routine care to effectively promote oral health and prevent ECC.
Methods: The initial step in implementing our initiative was introducing an electronic referral system (E-referrals) to facilitate direct communication between the COHI dental team and other hospital teams, as well as to track referrals. Prior to the start of this project, referrals to the dental department relied mainly on paper-based referrals for treatment.
Results: The number of E-referrals for ECC prevention in the pediatric ward increased from 0 to 351 during the project period. 90% (317) of all referred children underwent screening, and their families received oral health education from the COHI dental team. However, only 27% (98) of the children received fluoride varnish (FV) applications in the pediatric ward. Additionally, 51% (31) of healthcare providers attended our educational sessions.
Conclusions: Quality improvement methods have facilitated the successful integration of COHI into hospital inpatient settings, resulting in an increase in dental prevention visits in the pediatric ward, improved tracking of referrals, and enhanced communication between teams. It is essential to continue promoting the importance of implementing COHI in a wider context using E-referrals. This can be achieved through administrative support, innovative hospital policies, and training sessions. Future goals include implementing COHI in outpatient settings, such as well-child visits, as many children would benefit from a variety of COHI prevention measures.
Methods: The initial step in implementing our initiative was introducing an electronic referral system (E-referrals) to facilitate direct communication between the COHI dental team and other hospital teams, as well as to track referrals. Prior to the start of this project, referrals to the dental department relied mainly on paper-based referrals for treatment.
Results: The number of E-referrals for ECC prevention in the pediatric ward increased from 0 to 351 during the project period. 90% (317) of all referred children underwent screening, and their families received oral health education from the COHI dental team. However, only 27% (98) of the children received fluoride varnish (FV) applications in the pediatric ward. Additionally, 51% (31) of healthcare providers attended our educational sessions.
Conclusions: Quality improvement methods have facilitated the successful integration of COHI into hospital inpatient settings, resulting in an increase in dental prevention visits in the pediatric ward, improved tracking of referrals, and enhanced communication between teams. It is essential to continue promoting the importance of implementing COHI in a wider context using E-referrals. This can be achieved through administrative support, innovative hospital policies, and training sessions. Future goals include implementing COHI in outpatient settings, such as well-child visits, as many children would benefit from a variety of COHI prevention measures.