A Qualitative Study of Preschool Children's Perspectives on an Oral Health Promotion Program in New South Wales, Australia

Jinal Shashin Parmar; Prathyusha Sanagavarapu; Sowbhagya Micheal; Navira Chandio; Susan Cartwright; Amit Arora

doi:10.3390/children11040415

A Qualitative Study of Preschool Children's Perspectives on an Oral Health Promotion Program in New South Wales, Australia

Children (Basel). 2024 Apr 1;11(4):415. doi: 10.3390/children11040415.

Authors

Jinal Shashin Parmar^{1

2}, Prathyusha Sanagavarapu^{3

4}, Sowbhagya Micheal^{4

5}, Navira Chandio^{1

2

4}, Susan Cartwright⁶, Amit Arora^{1

2

4

7

8}

Affiliations

¹ School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown Campus, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia.
² Health Equity Laboratory, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia.
³ School of Education, Western Sydney University, Bankstown Campus, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia.
⁴ Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown Campus, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia.
⁵ School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown Campus, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia.
⁶ Colgate-Palmolive Pty Ltd., 420 George St., Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia.
⁷ Oral Health Services, Sydney Local Health District and Sydney Dental Hospital, NSW Health, Surry Hills, NSW 2010, Australia.
⁸ Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health, Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia.

Abstract

In Australia, dental caries are observed in almost half of children starting school. Oral health promotion programs are being implemented in early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings to promote oral health. This study examined children's perceptions of one such program, the Bright Smiles Bright Futures (BSBF) program in ECEC settings in New South Wales, Australia. Data were collected using focus group discussions from 15 children aged 3-5 years, transcribed verbatim, and analysed through inductive thematic analysis. Three themes were identified as follows: (i) oral health knowledge of children, (ii) oral hygiene practices routine and skills development, and (iii) evaluation of the oral health promotion kit and opportunities for improvement. Children's perspectives highlight the BSBF program's success in communicating key messages to promote oral health. The integration of family-centric approaches, acknowledgement of children's preferences, and the use of interactive tools collectively enhance the overall effectiveness of the oral health promotion program.

Keywords: children; early childhood caries; early childhood education and care setting; oral health promotion; preschool; toothbrushing.

Grants and funding

Western Sydney University provided resources for an onsite librarian, access to commercial databases to obtain relevant literature, and the software to manage or analyse data. The study was funded by the School of Health Sciences (Western Sydney University) Collaborative Multidisciplinary Partnership Grant in collaboration with Colgate Palmolive Pty. Ltd.