Nayee Shalini, Klass Charlotte, Findlay Gail, Gallagher Jennifer E
King's College London Dental Institute, Population and Patient Health Division, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 9RS, UK.
Institute for Health and Human Development, University of East London Stratford Campus, Water Lane, London, E12 4LZ, UK.
BMC Oral Health. 2018 Oct 20;18(1):168. doi: 10.1186/s12903-018-0584-5.
Preventable oral diseases such as dental caries remain common in the United Kingdom. Clustering of poor health is observed within deprived communities, such as inner-city areas, where elevated levels of dental need are associated with lower uptake of dental care. Successful oral health promotion (OHP) initiatives are contingent upon effective community engagement. The aim of this pilot study was to engage with families with young children to explore community views on oral health and dental care and thus tailor OHP initiatives more effectively to their needs.
Qualitative research, involving individual interviews and triad focus groups with parents/caregivers, was conducted in a south London inner-city community as part of a 'Well London' programme initiative.
Seventeen parents/caregivers participated in this pilot study. Parents/caregivers described a spectrum of oral health behaviours based on their social history, past dental experiences and cultural influences. All parents described a clear desire to create healthy lives for their children; however, two broad groups were apparent, termed 'Oral Health Prioritisers' and 'Oral Health Non-prioritisers'. The former reported regularly accessing dental care for their children, believing that oral health contributes to systemic health. Non-prioritisers, however, preferentially used key services considered most beneficial to their child's wellbeing. Dental services were considered a low priority for this group, where oral health was synonymous with absence of pain. Participants in both groups favoured OHP initiatives involving a range of health and social care services, with schools at the epicentre of programmes. First-time parents were proposed as an important group requiring support in future OHP initiatives with evidence suggesting that first-born children may have delayed presentation to a dentist.
The findings suggest that this inner-city community may contain sub-groups with contrasting perspectives on oral health and oral health behaviours; nevertheless, there was support for a systems approach to oral health promotion initiatives involving a range of health and social care services, including a critcal role for schools, and actively connecting with first-time parents. The findings provide the basis for further research.
在英国，诸如龋齿等可预防的口腔疾病仍然很常见。在贫困社区，如市中心地区，人们发现健康状况不佳的情况存在聚集现象，这些地区口腔护理需求较高，但牙科护理的利用率较低。成功的口腔健康促进（OHP）举措取决于有效的社区参与。这项试点研究的目的是与有幼儿的家庭接触，探索社区对口腔健康和牙科护理的看法，从而更有效地根据他们的需求调整OHP举措。
作为“伦敦健康”计划倡议的一部分，在伦敦南部市中心社区进行了定性研究，包括与父母/照顾者进行个人访谈和三人焦点小组讨论。
17名父母/照顾者参与了这项试点研究。父母/照顾者根据他们的社会历史、过去的牙科经历和文化影响描述了一系列口腔健康行为。所有父母都表示非常希望为孩子创造健康的生活；然而，明显出现了两大类人，分别称为“口腔健康优先者”和“非口腔健康优先者”。前者报告说经常为孩子寻求牙科护理，认为口腔健康有助于全身健康。然而，非优先者则优先使用他们认为对孩子幸福最有益的关键服务。牙科服务在这一组中被认为是低优先级的，在他们看来，口腔健康就是没有疼痛。两组参与者都赞成OHP举措应涉及一系列健康和社会护理服务，学校应处于这些计划的核心位置。首次为人父母者被认为是未来OHP举措中需要支持的重要群体，有证据表明头胎孩子看牙医的时间可能会推迟。
研究结果表明，这个市中心社区可能包含对口腔健康和口腔健康行为有不同看法的亚群体；尽管如此，人们支持采用系统方法来开展口腔健康促进举措，该举措涉及一系列健康和社会护理服务，包括学校的关键作用，并积极与首次为人父母者建立联系。这些发现为进一步研究提供了基础。
