A cluster randomised, controlled trial of the value of dental health educators in general dental practice.
OBJECTIVE
To test the effectiveness of dental health educators in general dental practice.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effectiveness and cost of primary care trusts seconding dental health educators free of charge to suitable general dental practices to provide dental health counselling to mothers of regularly attending pre-school children at risk to caries.


METHODS
Two-cell, parallel group, cluster randomised, controlled clinical trial of two years' duration.


METHODS
30 general dental practices in North-West England.


METHODS
269 mothers of 334 pre-school children.


METHODS
Those in the test group were given visits to a dental health educator over a 2-year period to counsel mothers of at-risk, pre-school children. The rest were held as a control.


METHODS
Caries prevalence of the children and dental health knowledge, attitudes and toothbrushing skills of the parents. The full costs of the exercise were kept throughout. The statistical analysis controlled for the clustering of children within practices.


RESULTS
After 2 years, 271 (81%) children and 248 (92%) mothers remained in the study. There was an 18% difference in mean dmft between the groups in favour of the test group children but this was not statistically significant. At the end of the study there was an 18% difference in mean dmft between the groups in favour of the test group children but this was not statistically significant. No difference in plaque levels was found. The mothers in the test group were more knowledgeable, had better attitudes towards the dental health of their offspring and better toothbrushing skills than those in the control. Each 2-hour session to counsel ten parents cost pound 40.


CONCLUSIONS
Primary care trusts should carefully consider the cost value of seconding dental health educators to counsel parents of regularly attending, at-risk, pre-school children when considering such an option.
Blinkhorn
A S
AS
The Unit of Oral Health and Development, The University Dental Hospital of Manchester. anthony.blinkhorn@man.ac.uk
Gratrix
D
D
Holloway
P J
PJ
Wainwright-Stringer
Y M
YM
Ward
S J
SJ
Worthington
H V
HV
D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003376:Counseling; D004245:DMF Index; D003727:Dental Auxiliaries / Q000191:economics; D019140:Dental Care for Children / Q000191:economics; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000517:prevention & control; D003733:Dental Caries Susceptibility; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005792:General Practice, Dental; D006267:Health Education, Dental / Q000191:economics; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016015:Logistic Models; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education*; D014099:Toothbrushing; D000078329:Workforce