Healthcare providers' perspectives on the Canadian Caries Risk Assessment Tool implementation in Indigenous pediatric...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Pediatric Dentistry
• Indigenous Health

Background:

• Early childhood caries is a major public health issue for Indigenous children in Canada.
• Integrating caries risk assessment (CRA) into primary care can enhance early detection and intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore barriers to implementing the Canadian CRA tool in primary care for First Nations and Métis children.
• To understand the perspectives of non-dental primary care providers (NDPCPs) regarding CRA tool integration.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative exploratory study involving 50 NDPCPs in ten Manitoba Indigenous communities.
• Data collected via focus groups and key informant interviews.
• Inductive thematic analysis using NVivo software.

Main Results:

• Identified four key barrier categories: service provider (time, scope, funding), community (oral health priority, healthcare separation, distrust), caregiver/child (dental insurance, willingness), and provider training (fluoride varnish, screening).
• NDPCPs expressed positive interest in training for early childhood caries prevention and CRA tool use.

Conclusions:

• NDPCPs in Manitoba view the Canadian CRA tool as beneficial for improving preventive dental care access for Indigenous children.
• Findings offer insights for developing strategies and policies to enhance oral health services for Indigenous children.