An assessment of strategies to control dental caries in Aboriginal children living in rural and remote communities in New South Wales, Australia

Abstract Background A community-led oral health service for Aboriginal people in Central Northern NSW identified the need for oral health promotion, as well as dental treatment; in three remote communities with limited access to dental services. A three-stage plan based on the Precede-Proceed model...

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Main Authors: Yvonne Dimitropoulos, Alexander Holden, Kylie Gwynne, Michelle Irving, Norma Binge, Anthony Blinkhorn
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2018-10-01
Series:BMC Oral Health
Subjects:
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12903-018-0643-y
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spelling doaj-d6a7546efe6945fa89a50aa2a02eef6f2020-11-25T01:39:51ZengBMCBMC Oral Health1472-68312018-10-011811810.1186/s12903-018-0643-yAn assessment of strategies to control dental caries in Aboriginal children living in rural and remote communities in New South Wales, AustraliaYvonne Dimitropoulos0Alexander Holden1Kylie Gwynne2Michelle Irving3Norma Binge4Anthony Blinkhorn5Poche Centre for Indigenous Health, University of SydneyUniversity of Sydney School of DentistryPoche Centre for Indigenous Health, University of SydneyPoche Centre for Indigenous Health, University of SydneyPoche Centre for Indigenous Health, University of SydneyPoche Centre for Indigenous Health, University of SydneyAbstract Background A community-led oral health service for Aboriginal people in Central Northern NSW identified the need for oral health promotion, as well as dental treatment; in three remote communities with limited access to dental services. A three-stage plan based on the Precede-Proceed model was used to develop a school-based preventive oral health program. The program will be piloted in three schools over 12 months aimed at improving the oral health of local Aboriginal children. Methods The proposed program includes four components: daily in-school toothbrushing; distribution of free fluoride toothpaste and toothbrushes; in-school and community dental health education and the installation of refrigerated and chilled water fountains to supply a school water bottle program. Primary school children will be issued toothbrushing kits to be kept at school to facilitate daily brushing using a fluoride toothpaste under the supervision of trained teachers and/or Oral Health Aides. School children, parents and guardians will be issued free fluoride toothpaste and toothbrushes for home use at three-monthly intervals. Four dental health education sessions will be delivered to children at each school and parents/guardians at local community health centres over the 12 month pilot. Dental education will be delivered by an Oral Health Therapist and local Aboriginal Dental Assistant. The program will also facilitate the installation of refrigerated and filtered water fountain to ensure cold and filtered water is available at schools. A structured school water bottle program will encourage the consumption of water. A process evaluation will be undertaken to assess the efficiency, feasibility and effectiveness of the pilot program. Discussion The proposed program includes four core evidence-based components which can be implemented in rural and remote schools with a high Aboriginal population. Based on the Precede-Proceed model, this program seeks to empower the local Aboriginal community to achieve improved oral health outcomes. Trial registration TRN: ISRCTN16110292 Date of Registration: 20 June 2018.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12903-018-0643-yAboriginalOral health promotionCommunity
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Yvonne Dimitropoulos
Alexander Holden
Kylie Gwynne
Michelle Irving
Norma Binge
Anthony Blinkhorn
spellingShingle Yvonne Dimitropoulos
Alexander Holden
Kylie Gwynne
Michelle Irving
Norma Binge
Anthony Blinkhorn
An assessment of strategies to control dental caries in Aboriginal children living in rural and remote communities in New South Wales, Australia
BMC Oral Health
Aboriginal
Oral health promotion
Community
author_facet Yvonne Dimitropoulos
Alexander Holden
Kylie Gwynne
Michelle Irving
Norma Binge
Anthony Blinkhorn
author_sort Yvonne Dimitropoulos
title An assessment of strategies to control dental caries in Aboriginal children living in rural and remote communities in New South Wales, Australia
title_short An assessment of strategies to control dental caries in Aboriginal children living in rural and remote communities in New South Wales, Australia
title_full An assessment of strategies to control dental caries in Aboriginal children living in rural and remote communities in New South Wales, Australia
title_fullStr An assessment of strategies to control dental caries in Aboriginal children living in rural and remote communities in New South Wales, Australia
title_full_unstemmed An assessment of strategies to control dental caries in Aboriginal children living in rural and remote communities in New South Wales, Australia
title_sort assessment of strategies to control dental caries in aboriginal children living in rural and remote communities in new south wales, australia
publisher BMC
series BMC Oral Health
issn 1472-6831
publishDate 2018-10-01
description Abstract Background A community-led oral health service for Aboriginal people in Central Northern NSW identified the need for oral health promotion, as well as dental treatment; in three remote communities with limited access to dental services. A three-stage plan based on the Precede-Proceed model was used to develop a school-based preventive oral health program. The program will be piloted in three schools over 12 months aimed at improving the oral health of local Aboriginal children. Methods The proposed program includes four components: daily in-school toothbrushing; distribution of free fluoride toothpaste and toothbrushes; in-school and community dental health education and the installation of refrigerated and chilled water fountains to supply a school water bottle program. Primary school children will be issued toothbrushing kits to be kept at school to facilitate daily brushing using a fluoride toothpaste under the supervision of trained teachers and/or Oral Health Aides. School children, parents and guardians will be issued free fluoride toothpaste and toothbrushes for home use at three-monthly intervals. Four dental health education sessions will be delivered to children at each school and parents/guardians at local community health centres over the 12 month pilot. Dental education will be delivered by an Oral Health Therapist and local Aboriginal Dental Assistant. The program will also facilitate the installation of refrigerated and filtered water fountain to ensure cold and filtered water is available at schools. A structured school water bottle program will encourage the consumption of water. A process evaluation will be undertaken to assess the efficiency, feasibility and effectiveness of the pilot program. Discussion The proposed program includes four core evidence-based components which can be implemented in rural and remote schools with a high Aboriginal population. Based on the Precede-Proceed model, this program seeks to empower the local Aboriginal community to achieve improved oral health outcomes. Trial registration TRN: ISRCTN16110292 Date of Registration: 20 June 2018.
topic Aboriginal
Oral health promotion
Community
url http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12903-018-0643-y
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