IADR Abstract Archives
Changes in Parental Oral Health Attitude in a 2-Year Dental Caries Prevention Programme
Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the changes in parental oral health attitude regarding adults and children after individualized oral health education (OHE).
Methods: This is a longitudinal analysis of data from a two-year randomized controlled trial comparing the effectiveness of two kinds of toothpaste. Parent-child dyads were recruited (n=579). At baseline, the children aged one-year-old and were at high-caries-risk, and all parents received individualized OHE. A self-completed structured questionnaire was used to collect the parental oral health attitude regarding adults and children at baseline and two-year follow-up.
Results: A total of 472 parent-child dyads completed the two-year programme (follow-up rate: 81.5%; children’s mean age: 38.6±1.9 months). There was a significant improvement in the parental oral health attitude for adults and children (Attitude-adults: baseline: 7.0±1.0, follow-up: 7.2±1.0; Attitude-children: baseline: 9.1±2.0, follow-up: 10.6±1.9; P<0.001). Significantly more parents at follow-up were confident to do toothbrushing for children, knew about the proper toothbrushing method for children, could brush their children’s teeth when they fell asleep, and would insist toothbrushing even if their children did not want to (P<0.001).
Conclusions: Parents had improved their oral health attitudes after receiving individualized OHE. They were more motivated to keep good oral hygiene for their children.
Methods: This is a longitudinal analysis of data from a two-year randomized controlled trial comparing the effectiveness of two kinds of toothpaste. Parent-child dyads were recruited (n=579). At baseline, the children aged one-year-old and were at high-caries-risk, and all parents received individualized OHE. A self-completed structured questionnaire was used to collect the parental oral health attitude regarding adults and children at baseline and two-year follow-up.
Results: A total of 472 parent-child dyads completed the two-year programme (follow-up rate: 81.5%; children’s mean age: 38.6±1.9 months). There was a significant improvement in the parental oral health attitude for adults and children (Attitude-adults: baseline: 7.0±1.0, follow-up: 7.2±1.0; Attitude-children: baseline: 9.1±2.0, follow-up: 10.6±1.9; P<0.001). Significantly more parents at follow-up were confident to do toothbrushing for children, knew about the proper toothbrushing method for children, could brush their children’s teeth when they fell asleep, and would insist toothbrushing even if their children did not want to (P<0.001).
Conclusions: Parents had improved their oral health attitudes after receiving individualized OHE. They were more motivated to keep good oral hygiene for their children.