Shilpi Ajwani1, Mariana S Sousa2, Ariana C Villarosa3, Sameer Bhole1, Maree Johnson4, Hannah G Dahlen5, Julia Hoolsema3, Anthony Blinkhorn6, Ravi Srinivas7, Albert Yaacoub8, Andrew Milat9, John Skinner6, Ajesh George10. 1. Sydney Local Health District Oral Health Services/Sydney Dental Hospital/University of Sydney, Sydney Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia. 2. Centre for Oral Health Outcomes & Research Translation (COHORT), Western Sydney University/South Western Sydney Local Health District/Ingham Institute Applied Medical Research/Prince of Wales Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia. 3. COHORT, Western Sydney University/South Western Sydney Local Health District/Ingham Institute Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, NSW, Australia. 4. Faculty of Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University/Ingham Institute Applied Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia. 5. School of Nursing & Midwifery, Western Sydney University/Ingham Institute Applied Medical Research, Parramatta, NSW, Australia. 6. Faculty of Dentistry, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia. 7. COHORT, South Western Sydney Local Health District Oral Health Services, Western Sydney University/Ingham Institute Applied Medical Research/University of Sydney, Liverpool, NSW, Australia. 8. Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District Oral Health Services, Penrith, NSW, Australia. 9. Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia. 10. COHORT, Western Sydney University/South Western Sydney Local Health District/University of Sydney/Ingham Institute Applied Medical Research, Translational Health Research Institute, Liverpool, NSW, Australia.
Abstract
ISSUE ADDRESSED: All pregnant women should have a comprehensive oral health evaluation. Unfortunately, many pregnant women seldom seek dental care and some dentists are hesitant to treat during pregnancy. To address these issues, the Midwifery Initiated Oral Health Dental Service (MIOH-DS) program was developed in Australia. The aim of this study was to undertake a process evaluation and explore the perceptions of dental professionals involved in the program to determine the acceptability, feasibility and effectiveness of the program if it were to be upscaled. METHODS: A qualitative approach using content analysis was conducted on data from two focus groups involving 12 dental professionals. RESULTS: All participants were supportive of the MIOH-DS program. They thought pregnant women were receptive to their care, and reported markedly improved oral health. The provision of free dental care and the involvement of midwives were cited as major factors that improved the uptake of the program. Some of the challenges encountered were the prevailing misconceptions about the safety of dental treatment and pregnancy-related impairments. CONCLUSIONS: Dental professionals found the MIOH-DS to be acceptable, feasible and effective in improving oral health of pregnant women and their uptake of dental services. However, some challenges need to be addressed as the MIOH-DS program is upscaled into a cost-effective model. SO WHAT?: Dental professionals are important stakeholders in the MIOH-DS model. The process evaluation of the successful dental intervention is necessary to understand how and why such interventions work, and is an important step in scaling up to a population-wide intervention.
ISSUE ADDRESSED: All pregnant women should have a comprehensive oral health evaluation. Unfortunately, many pregnant women seldom seek dental care and some dentists are hesitant to treat during pregnancy. To address these issues, the Midwifery Initiated Oral Health Dental Service (MIOH-DS) program was developed in Australia. The aim of this study was to undertake a process evaluation and explore the perceptions of dental professionals involved in the program to determine the acceptability, feasibility and effectiveness of the program if it were to be upscaled. METHODS: A qualitative approach using content analysis was conducted on data from two focus groups involving 12 dental professionals. RESULTS: All participants were supportive of the MIOH-DS program. They thought pregnant women were receptive to their care, and reported markedly improved oral health. The provision of free dental care and the involvement of midwives were cited as major factors that improved the uptake of the program. Some of the challenges encountered were the prevailing misconceptions about the safety of dental treatment and pregnancy-related impairments. CONCLUSIONS: Dental professionals found the MIOH-DS to be acceptable, feasible and effective in improving oral health of pregnant women and their uptake of dental services. However, some challenges need to be addressed as the MIOH-DS program is upscaled into a cost-effective model. SO WHAT?: Dental professionals are important stakeholders in the MIOH-DS model. The process evaluation of the successful dental intervention is necessary to understand how and why such interventions work, and is an important step in scaling up to a population-wide intervention.
Authors: Hollis Haotian Chai; Sherry Shiqian Gao; Kitty Jieyi Chen; Duangporn Duangthip; Edward Chin Man Lo; Chun Hung Chu Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-01-22 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Heilok Cheng; Rebecca Chen; Maxim Milosevic; Chris Rossiter; Amit Arora; Elizabeth Denney-Wilson Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-11-23 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Sara Touriño; María Del Carmen Suárez-Cotelo; María Jesús Núñez-Iglesias; Eva María Domínguez-Martís; Diego Gabriel Mosteiro-Miguéns; David López-Ares; Silvia Novío Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-06-04 Impact factor: 3.390