title: A case study in creating oral health messages for rural low-income families: a comparison to the cultural appropriateness framework.
abstract: Culturally appropriate oral health messages are found to be an effective tool to improve oral health among rural, low-income families. Yet knowledge on how to best achieve such messages is lacking. Based on participatory, learner-based approach, this study examined various oral health messages (varied length, detail, and voice) among 75 rural, low-income mothers in nine states in the theoretical framework of cultural appropriateness model. Specifically, we compared the process of our message creation to the differential effects of linguistic, peripheral, evidential, and sociocultural approaches. Results of qualitative analysis showed that low-income mothers, who represent a "rural culture," prefer messages that (a) have a clear and concise connection between recommendations presented in the message and future economic consequences of inaction, with sufficient explanation; (b) mention problem-specific economic struggles and inaccessibility of resources; (c) include the sources of fluoride, community barriers, availability of professional resources, and the quality of local water; and (d) contain the voice of a dental authority over the voice of other mothers. The applicability of cultural appropriateness framework and policy implications are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Washington State University Vancouver, Vancouver, WA, USA.
authors.forename: Hodeis
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tabatabaei-Moghaddam
authors.affiliation: Washington State University Vancouver, Vancouver, WA, USA yoshie_sano@vancouver.wsu.edu.
authors.forename: Yoshie
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sano
authors.affiliation: University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Sheila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mammen
mesh_terms: D018672:Community Health Planning; D003469:Culture; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D009909:Oral Health; D011203:Poverty; D012424:Rural Population; D013664:Teaching Materials; D014481:United States
keywords: cultural competence; health promotion; oral health; rural health