Florida child care center directors’ intention to implement oral health promotion practices in licensed child care centers

Abstract

BackgroundTo determine the factors associated with child care center directors’ (CCCDs) intention to implement oral health promotion practices (OHPPs) in licensed childcare centers (CCCs) within the next year, and their self-perceived barriers in successfully implementing those practices.MethodsFor this cross-sectional study, a pretested 45-item online survey was sent to 5142 CCCDs assessing pediatric oral health knowledge, attitudes towards oral health, intention to implement OHPPs, and self-perceived barriers to implementing OHPPs. An adjusted logistic regression model determined the factors associated with CCCDs intention to implement OHPPs within the next year.ResultsParticipants were 877 CCCDs, with mean age of 48.5 ± 10.5 years, of whom 96 % were women, and 74 % were whites (Response rate = 19.4 %). The majority (67 %) of respondents reported that they intended to implement OHPPs in their center within a year. Insufficient funding, lack of enough training in oral health, and limited time to promote oral health were the most frequently cited barriers to implementing OHPPs. CCCDs of non-White race (p = 0.02), with a college degree or above (p = 0.05), and with positive attitudes (p < 0.0001), were more likely to report that they will implement OHPPs within the next year compared to their counterparts.ConclusionsCCCDs reported fewer barriers to implementing OHPPs within the next year, indicating that CCCs can be a suitable setting to promote oral health. CCCDs race, educational status and attitudes towards oral health strongly predicted their intention to implement OHPPs. Though this study assessed the intention of CCCDs to implement OHPPs in CCCs, it did not access the actual implementation of OHPPs by them. Therefore future research could longitudinally assess predictors for true implementation of OHPPs. In addition, researchers should adopt a more comprehensive, multi-level approach to assess the actual dental health needs of children attending these centers, along with parental, staff and center level characteristics, and other relevant factors related to implementing OHPPs.

Oral health promotion practices: a survey of Florida child care center directors

“…The authors developed the 45-item survey by adapting questions from previously tested and validated surveys [ 11 – 13 ]. AAPD oral health policies for CCCs [ 5 ] were also used to construct questions to assess OHPPs implemented in the CCCs.…”

Racial and Ethnic Discrimination in the Labor Market for Child Care Teachers

“… 11 It is important to note that the response rate reported here is similar to those reported in previous studies that surveyed center-based child care programs. Lutzkanin, Myers, Schaefer, and Sekhar (2016) and Joshi, Ocanto, Jacobs, and Bhoopathi (2016) report response rates of 11.6% and 17.0%, respectively, in web-based surveys of center-based directors. Interestingly, Schaack and Le (2017) combine e-mail recruitment with a web-based survey, along with a $200 financial incentive, and achieve only a 23.6% response rate.…”