Peer teaching pilot programme for caries prevention in underprivileged and migrant populations

Focused caries prevention programmes for migrant children often fail because there is an important barrier of linguistic and cultural diversity.

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether a tailored peer teaching approach can improve oral health behaviours of underprivileged and/or multinational migrant first graders.

Two fourth grade classes (30 children, mean age 9.6) and two first grade classes (38 children, mean age 6.6) with high migrant background participated. The fourth graders took part in a preparatory course of oral health and developed a concept for tutoring first graders in oral health concepts as well as the Fones toothbrushing method. Later then, the fourth graders instructed the first graders during two lessons. Toothbrushing of each first grader was filmed before and 7 days after instruction. Toothbrushing time, method, and systematic were evaluated.

After instruction, circular toothbrushing movements and systematic toothbrushing were observed significantly more often (P = 0.0001); toothbrushing time did not change.

This pilot study shows that tutoring by older peers of similar origin resulted in significant changes towards better oral health in underprivileged and/or multinational migrant first graders. Authentic role models could be provided, and communication and cultural barriers circumvented.