Evans D J, Hillman L, Nunn J
Newcastle and North Tyneside Health Authorities, Newcastle upon Tyne.
Community Dent Health. 1999 Mar;16(1):26-32.
The study was designed to explore parents' and head teachers' understanding of and attitudes to the process, objectives and perceived outcomes of a school dental screening.
Qualitative methods were used as a source for questionnaire development and questionnaires were subsequently used to test the strength of agreement with the qualitative findings.
Head teachers and parents of a sample of 5- and 10-year-old children attending primary schools in Sunderland.
Questionnaire responses from 83 (79%) of the head teachers and 934 (82%) parents of 5- and 10-year-old children showed that the exercise was well accepted by the majority. Gaps were identified in many aspects of communication between the Community Dental Service, schools and parents.
It is recommended that, taking into account the views of all involved, the objectives of the exercise should be clearly defined and then clearly communicated. Evaluation should follow, measuring the extent to which the defined objectives are met. In this way the process will make a more positive and relevant contribution to oral health and the provision of primary dental care.
