The aim of this case-control study of 617 children was to investigate early childhood caries (ECC) risk indicators in a non-fluoridated region in Australia. ECC cases were recruited from childcare facilities, public hospitals and private specialist clinics to source children from different socioeconomic backgrounds. Non-ECC controls were recruited from the same childcare facilities. A multinomial logistic modelling approach was used for statistical analysis. The results showed that a large percentage of children tested positive for Streptococcus mutans if their mothers also tested positive. A common risk indicator found in ECC children from childcare facilities and public hospitals was visible plaque (OR 4.1, 95% CI 1.0–15.9, and OR 8.7, 95% CI 2.3–32.9, respectively). Compared to ECC-free controls, the risk indicators specific to childcare cases were enamel hypoplasia (OR 4.2, 95% CI 1.0–18.3), difficulty in cleaning child’s teeth (OR 6.6, 95% CI 2.2–19.8), presence of S. mutans (OR 4.8, 95% CI 0.7–32.6), sweetened drinks (OR 4.0, 95% CI 1.2–13.6) and maternal anxiety (OR 5.1, 95% CI 1.1–25.0). Risk indicators specific to public hospital cases were S. mutans presence in child (OR 7.7, 95% CI 1.3–44.6) or mother (OR 8.1, 95% CI 0.9–72.4), ethnicity (OR 5.6, 95% CI 1.4–22.1), and access of mother to pension or health care card (OR 20.5, 95% CI 3.5–119.9). By contrast, a history of chronic ear infections was found to be protective for ECC in childcare children (OR 0.28, 95% CI 0.09–0.82). The biological, socioeconomic and maternal risk indicators demonstrated in the present study can be employed in models of ECC that can be usefully applied for future longitudinal studies.

Background Public involvement in the education of students enrolled on higher education programmes has gained impetus. For students enrolled on professional health‐care programmes and health‐related modules in the UK, there is also a requirement by professional bodies to include “service user” involvement in preparation for entry to a professional health‐care register and continuing professional development. Actively involving patients and members of the public in research is also a requirement by many research funders. In this article, the term Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) will be used throughout to include lay members, volunteers, user and carers. Objectives A unique pilot study was introduced across a health faculty to integrate PPI in a deliberate way. It aimed to provide an educational, focused programme of events that was meaningful to develop and inform peoples’ knowledge, skills and confidence for their involvement in the health faculty. Design PPI members volunteered to sit on a steering group to determine the educational journey; the outcomes of three focus groups with PPI members (N = 32) and academics informed the programme content which included a range of workshops covering the exploration of public roles and barriers to involvement, introduction to research and interviewing skills. Results The workshops were well attended, and outcomes indicated the importance of co‐production when designing, delivering and evaluating programmes. Discussion Co‐production underpinned this pilot study, resulting in a programme which was meaningfully received by public contributors. Recommendations Co‐production was seen as integral to this research to ensure that outcomes were indeed “fit for purpose”.

Obesity is a risk factor for numerous diseases, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and some cancers. 1,2 In Australia, the prevalence of overweight and obesity has been increasing; 63% of adults were classed as overweight or obese in 2014-15, up from 57% in 1995. 3 The Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) clinical practice guidelines for the management of overweight and obesity identify primary care as playing an important role in weight management, 4 and

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