Optimising family toothbrushing behaviours in the home setting
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Optimising family toothbrushing behaviours in the home in early years in Scotland: developing and evaluating a community based intervention
IRAS ID
290031
Contact name
Alastair Ross
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 7 months, 7 days
Research summary
Dental caries is the most prevalent chronic disease worldwide and is a particular public health problem for young children in Scotland. Despite improvements over the past decade, there are still relatively high caries levels in children in Scotland and socioeconomic inequalities remain. The Childsmile universal toothbrushing programme in nurseries and some primary schools has contributed to the improvements in caries levels, however, many children experience tooth decay before they attend nursery at the age of 3. Parental supervised toothbrushing with fluoride toothpaste, particularly when initiated at a young age, can reduce a child’s risk of caries. However, many parents and caregivers can face barriers which prevent them from effectively implementing toothbrushing for their child. Childsmile’s Dental Health Support Workers (DHSWs) provide oral health support for targeted families in the home setting, including the promotion of toothbrushing.
This project aims to develop an intervention to support daily toothbrushing in the home by adapting an existing tool for the Childsmile pathway; ‘Uitblinkers’ has been developed by the Academic Centre for Dentistry (ACTA) in Amsterdam using motivational interviewing techniques with parents.
A modified Delphi process with collaborating DHSWs and key stakeholders will co-design an adapted Uitblinkers intervention (‘prototype’), drawing from theory-based mapping of its evidence-base.
A series of qualitative interviews/focus groups with DHSWs, parents and other stakeholders will refine the final design. All questions relate to the feasibility, acceptability and perceived benefits (or otherwise) of using the adapted tool to support families. Following training of DHSWs we will test the final intervention (tool) in a simulated environment with parents from the target group. Recruitment of staff is via a project advisory group, and DHSWs will facilitate recruitment of suitable parent groups. Recommendations for home-based trials will follow. All fieldwork (interviews and simulations) is considered for potential online delivery due to the current pandemic response.REC name
West Midlands - Black Country Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/WM/0066
Date of REC Opinion
16 Mar 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion