The Early Childhood Oral Health Program: Promoting prevention and timely intervention of early childhood caries in NSW through shared care

Maher, L; Phelan, C; Lawrence, G; Dawson, A; Torvaldsen, S; Wright, C

The Early Childhood Oral Health Program: Promoting prevention and timely intervention of early childhood caries in NSW through shared care

Maher, L Phelan, C Lawrence, G Dawson, A

Torvaldsen, S Wright, C

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 2012, 23 (3), pp. 171 - 176
Issue Date:: 2012-12-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Maher, L	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Phelan, C	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Lawrence, G	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Dawson, A https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0926-2202	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Torvaldsen, S	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Wright, C	en_US
dc.date.issued	2012-12-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 2012, 23 (3), pp. 171 - 176	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	1036-1073	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/23158
dc.description.abstract	Issue addressed: Early childhood caries (ECC) continues to have high prevalence worldwide, despite being largely preventable. The Early Childhood Oral Health (ECOH) Program was established in New South Wales (NSW) using a model of shared responsibility for oral health, which involves a partnership between child health professionals, oral health professionals and parents of young children, to facilitate the primary prevention, early identification and early intervention of ECC. Methods: An evaluation of the ECOH program was conducted, using mixed methods. Data were obtained through document review, surveys and interviews with program implementers, and analysis of the Information System for Oral Health (ISOH) database for public oral health services activity in NSW. Results: Key achievements of the ECOH program include the establishment of governance mechanisms, policy, structures and responsibilities for implementation, support mechanisms for child health professionals, referral processes, communications resources, and the delivery of training. Parents receive oral health information, education and support through written resources and contact with child health professionals. Child and family health nurses interviewed reported routinely incorporating oral health promotion and early identification for ECC into their practices. The referral rate to public oral health services for children under five years of age by community health professionals has increased steadily since the program began, with the rate in 2009 five times higher than in 2007. Conclusions: Models of shared responsibility for oral health between parents, child health professionals and oral health professionals can facilitate primary prevention and early intervention for ECC.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Health Promotion Journal of Australia	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1071/HE12171	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Public Health	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Humans	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Dental Caries	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Prevalence	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Risk Factors	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Socioeconomic Factors	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Child, Preschool	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Infant	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Oral Health	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Health Promotion	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Primary Health Care	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	New South Wales	en_US
dc.title	The Early Childhood Oral Health Program: Promoting prevention and timely intervention of early childhood caries in NSW through shared care	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	3	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	23	en_US
utslib.for	1105 Dentistry	en_US
utslib.for	1117 Public Health and Health Services	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - WHO CC
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.issue	3	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	23	en_US

Abstract:

Issue addressed: Early childhood caries (ECC) continues to have high prevalence worldwide, despite being largely preventable. The Early Childhood Oral Health (ECOH) Program was established in New South Wales (NSW) using a model of shared responsibility for oral health, which involves a partnership between child health professionals, oral health professionals and parents of young children, to facilitate the primary prevention, early identification and early intervention of ECC. Methods: An evaluation of the ECOH program was conducted, using mixed methods. Data were obtained through document review, surveys and interviews with program implementers, and analysis of the Information System for Oral Health (ISOH) database for public oral health services activity in NSW. Results: Key achievements of the ECOH program include the establishment of governance mechanisms, policy, structures and responsibilities for implementation, support mechanisms for child health professionals, referral processes, communications resources, and the delivery of training. Parents receive oral health information, education and support through written resources and contact with child health professionals. Child and family health nurses interviewed reported routinely incorporating oral health promotion and early identification for ECC into their practices. The referral rate to public oral health services for children under five years of age by community health professionals has increased steadily since the program began, with the rate in 2009 five times higher than in 2007. Conclusions: Models of shared responsibility for oral health between parents, child health professionals and oral health professionals can facilitate primary prevention and early intervention for ECC.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/23158