title: Evaluation of an oral health education session for Early Head Start home visitors.
abstract: Home visiting programs promote the education and health of Early Head Start (EHS) children and pregnant women. However, EHS's oral health component is unevenly implemented. We conducted an educational intervention to improve oral health knowledge and motivational interviewing techniques among Wisconsin EHS home visitors.
  
  
  
  A questionnaire assessing oral health-related knowledge and confidence was administered to home visitors before and after an educational session. Changes between pre/post-responses were analyzed with McNemar's test and Wilcoxon Signed Rank test.
  
  
  
  After the intervention there were increases in both knowledge and confidence related to oral health communication. Knowledge increases were observed in such topics as fluoridation, dental caries, and caregivers' role in assisting and supervising children's tooth brushing.
  
  
  
  A brief educational intervention was associated with increased home visitor knowledge and confidence in communicating oral health messages to EHS caregivers and pregnant women.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Center for the Advancement of Underserved Children, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
authors: Kevin
authors: K
authors: Glatt
authors: Department of Clinical Services, School of Dentistry, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
authors: Christopher
authors: C
authors: Okunseri
authors: Children's Health Alliance of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
authors: Diane
authors: D
authors: Flanagan
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Center for the Advancement of Underserved Children, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
authors: Pippa
authors: P
authors: Simpson
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Center for the Advancement of Underserved Children, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
authors: Yumei
authors: Y
authors: Cao
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Center for the Advancement of Underserved Children, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
authors: Earnestine
authors: E
authors: Willis
mesh_terms: D019140:Dental Care for Children; D018479:Early Intervention, Educational; D005260:Female; D006267:Health Education, Dental; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007318:Inservice Training; D008297:Male; D009909:Oral Health; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014922:Wisconsin; D000078329:Workforce
keywords: child; dental; health education; preventive dentistry