Do public health nurses in Norway promote information on oral health?

Abstract

Background(i) to describe oral health counselling in Norway to parents with infants and toddlers, ii) to assess existing collaboration and routines in oral health matters between nurses and personnel in the PDS, iii) to evaluate to what extent oral health was integrated in the basic educational curriculum of public health nurses.MethodsThis study was based on two separate surveys: the sample of Study I was 98 randomly selected child health clinics. A questionnaire covering oral health promotion counselling of parents with young children was returned by 259 nurses. Study II was a telephone survey addressing teachers of public health nurses at the eight educational institutions in Norway.ResultsThe response rate in Study I was 45%. Nutrition (breast feeding, diet) was the health subject most often prioritized in the counselling targeting parents of young children (by 60% of the nurses). Oral health was not among the first priority counselling subjects. The subject was seldom spontaneously mentioned by parents. Seventy percent of respondents reported (agreed or totally agreed) that they managed to provide information parents needed and 72% believed that the information they gave influenced parents' health behaviours. Seven nurses (5.2%) responded that they agreed with the statement that the information they gave only slightly influenced parents' health behaviour. Lack of time was mentioned as being a problem. Approximately half of the nurses (48%) had regular contact with the PDS for the 0-3 year-old children, but only a quarter of the nurses claimed that children's teeth were routinely examined at the child clinics. Some forms of previously established contact with the PDS enhanced the likelihood of nurses' referrals. Oral health was a minor part of the educational curriculum for public health nurses; at three institutions, the subject was totally absent.ConclusionCollaboration between nurses and the PDS in Norway could be improved. Oral health should have a bigger place in the basic educational curriculum.

Assessment of Mothers’ Oral Health Knowledge: Towards Oral Health Promotion for Infants and Children

“…Mothers, being the child's primary care giver should be adequately exposed to oral health care issues which will be ultimately transferred to the child. Parental behavioral factors determine the oral health status of their children [6] and therefore they should be adequately educated on prevention of oral diseases. This should be done during the first two years of the child's life, which is the most important period [7].…”

Waiting room time: An opportunity for parental oral health education

“…Recommendation has already been made that professional nurses acquire basic oral health competencies so that they can provide preventive care for underserved populations. 26 Norwegian public health nurses already promote oral health, 27 and other medical professionals (pediatricians, primary health care providers, nurses) can also be trained to provide preventive dental care, including dental screening and referrals. 28 Canadian dentists can also contribute, by following the American Dental Association's recommendation to hold and promote community events, during which underserved children from low-income families receive free dental screenings, treatment and education.…”

Community‐based preventive activities in the Public Dental Service in Norway

“…This is in line with the results from another investigation among the Chief Dental Officers in Norway that reported an established cooperation between the PDS and the child welfare centres in almost all counties and with institutions for elderly in all counties . In spite of the established interprofessional cooperation, a study on public health nurses and promotion of oral health concluded that collaboration between child welfare centres and the PDS can be improved . Only half of the public health nurses claimed to have regular contact with the PDS, and a quarter felt their knowledge about oral health was insufficient.…”