Improving Oral Health outcomes for children attending a SES
Research type
Research Study
Full title
"How Effective are Targeted Oral Health Programmes to the Parents and Caregivers of Children attending a Special Educational Setting at Improving the Oral Health Outcomes for the Children"
IRAS ID
344936
Contact name
Elizabeth Sherry
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
PRCommittee, 24/PR/1235
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 10 months, 2 days
Research summary
Background information
Oral health is the health of the mouth, teeth and orofacial structures that enable individuals to eat, speak and feel confident to socialise/ work without pain/embarrassment (WHO (World Health Organisation] Oral health (who.int)
Oral diseases include dental decay, gum disease and tooth loss. Most Oral diseases are preventable. In the UK tooth extraction is the most common reason for hospital admission in children. In 2021 – 22 there were 42,180 hospital tooth extractions in children 0-19yrs with 63% of these for decay. In 2023 a proportion of children attending local Special Educational Settings (SES) were examined, 26% had some dental decay.
Children with enhanced health care/learning needs are more vulnerable to oral disease than children without because of the additional challenges they may have which can be a further barrier to maintaining good oral health.
There is a lack of evidence around the impact that disability has on oral health and the effectiveness of parental/carer education on the oral health of children attending a SES.
ProposalThis study advises an oral health programme that focuses on sharing information with and supporting parents/carers of children attending a SES to improve their child’s Oral Health.
This study would run from September ’24 to July ’25.This study would like to ask parents/carers of children attending a SES to:
1. Complete a questionnaire about their child’s oral health and food/drink choices. The questionnaire may be completed online or by collecting a questionnaire from the school office.
2. There is a additional opportunity to participate in a focus group.
3. Attend an oral health training session at the school or on line.
4. Share some short videos about oral health with their child and talk about them.
5. Complete a post training session questionnaire.REC name
North West - Preston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/NW/0329
Date of REC Opinion
31 Oct 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion