Effects of an Educational and Outreach Intervention on Community Oral Health Workers

ABSTRACT

This pilot study examines caregivers’ knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding their child’s oral health changes after an educational intervention. Participants were 10 caregivers of children (aged 0–5). Caregivers were trained by dental students and a pediatric dental resident and were assessed prior to the start of the training course and six weeks after its completion. The project shows significant improvements in caregivers’ knowledge and practices about children’s oral health with a targeted and culturally competent intervention.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Gabriela Salcedo

Gabriela Salcedo, DDS, was a pediatric dental resident at the University of California, Los Angeles, School of Dentistry from 2015–2017 and is now a pediatric dentist in private practice in Los Angeles County.

Conflict of Interest Disclosure: None reported.

Francisco Ramos-Gomez

Francisco Ramos-Gomez, DDS, MS, MPH, is a professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, section of pediatric dentistry and director of the UCLA Center for Children’s Oral Health (UCCOH).

Conflict of Interest Disclosure: None reported.

Hamida Askaryar

Hamida Askaryar, RDH, MPH, is a registered dental hygienist and the program manager for the HRSA-funded project “Strategic Partnership for Interprofessional Collaborative Education in Pediatric Dentistry” (SPICEPD: www.uclachatpd.org).

Conflict of Interest Disclosure: None reported.

Chi-Hong Tseng

Chi-Hong Tseng, PhD, is an adjunct professor at the department of medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles. He is a biostatistician and his research interests include clinical trials, survival analysis and missing data problems.

Conflict of Interest Disclosure: None reported.

Donna Kritz-Silverstein

Donna Kritz-Silverstein, PhD, is a professor in the department of family medicine and public health at the University of California, San Diego. She teaches classes in research design, data analysis and scientific writing.

Conflict of Interest Disclosure: None reported.