title: The midwifery initiated oral health-dental service protocol: an intervention to improve oral health outcomes for pregnant women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Evidence is emerging that women's poor oral health and health practices during pregnancy are associated with poor oral health in their children and potentially an increased risk of pre-term or low-birth weight infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Midwifery Initiated Oral Health-Dental Service (MIOH-DS) trial is a three arm multicentre randomised controlled trial which will recruit women from three metropolitan hospitals aimed at improving women's oral health and service access and indirectly reducing perinatal morbidity. All three arms of the trial will deliver oral health promotion material, although a midwife oral assessment and referral to private/public/health fund dental services pathway (Intervention Group 1) and the midwife oral assessment and referral to local free public dental services pathway (Intervention Group 2) will be compared to the control group of oral health promotional material only. Midwives will undergo specific oral health education and competency testing to undertake this novel intervention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This efficacy trial will promote a new partnership between midwives and dentists focused on enhancing the oral health of women and their infants. Should the intervention be found effective, this intervention, with existing on-line educational program for midwives, can be easily transferred into practice for large metropolitan health services within and beyond Australia. Further cost-benefit analysis is proposed to inform national health policy.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12612001271897.
authors.forename: Maree
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Centre for Applied Nursing Research, University of Western Sydney/ South Western Sydney Local Health District, University of Sydney, Ingham Institute Applied Medical Research, Liverpool BC, Locked Bag 7103, Sydney, NSW 1871, Australia. A.George@uws.edu.au.
authors.forename: Ajesh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: George
authors.forename: Hannah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dahlen
authors.forename: Shilpi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ajwani
authors.forename: Sameer
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bhole
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Blinkhorn
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ellis
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yeo
mesh_terms: D019091:Critical Pathways; D003729:Dental Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006267:Health Education, Dental; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008880:Midwifery; D009909:Oral Health; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000150:complications; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000517:prevention & control; D011295:Prenatal Care; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D014076:Tooth Diseases / Q000150:complications