Elevating Oral Health Interprofessional Practice Among Pediatricians Through a Statewide Quality Improvement Learning...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Pediatric Primary Care
• Oral Health Integration

Background:

• Persistent early childhood caries and dental professional shortages necessitate integrating oral health into primary care.
• Oral Health Interprofessional Practice (OHIP) offers a pathway to reduce oral health disparities by incorporating preventive measures.
• OHIP involves risk assessments, fluoride education, varnish application, and dental referrals within primary care settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a formative evaluation of OHIP implementation in 15 pediatric primary care practices.
• To identify factors inhibiting and facilitating the adoption of OHIP in pediatric settings.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative process evaluation using an ecological framework.
• Document review and qualitative interviews with staff from 15 pediatric practices in South Carolina.
• Thematic analysis to identify facilitators and challenges of OHIP adoption.

Main Results:

• Challenges included limited resources, role confusion, communication issues, and family receptiveness.
• Facilitators comprised OHIP training, responsive clinical staff, and local dentist engagement.
• Key recommendations focused on developing dental referral networks and securing clinical staff buy-in.

Conclusions:

• A learning collaborative model effectively supported OHIP adoption among pediatric providers.
• OHIP integration provides an accessible point for preventive oral care, reinforcing healthy behaviors.
• This approach advances oral health equity for children and promotes family wellness.