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Exploring the Acceptability of Integrating Dietitians Into Primary Care Dental Services for Children
Lauren Hallewell1, Raul Bescos1, Zoe Brookes2
1School of Health Professions, Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK.
Background:
Dental caries is a common childhood non-communicable disease strongly associated with high sugar intake. Beyond oral health, a poor diet can affect children's growth, development, and overall well-being. While dietary advice is central to preventive dental care, some primary care dental clinics have introduced body mass index (BMI) assessments and further dietary advice to address wider nutritional concerns in children. However, these efforts are often constrained by limited nutrition training, time constraints and concerns about sensitivity. Integrating dietitians into primary dental care may help overcome these barriers by enhancing dietary guidance, supporting broader nutritional needs and facilitating structured BMI assessments with appropriate follow-up.
Aim:
To explore the acceptability of integrating dietitians into primary dental care for children, guided by the theoretical framework of acceptability (TFA).
Methods:
Dental professionals and caregivers were recruited from South West England, and dietitians from across the United Kingdom (April-December 2024). Semi-structured interviews were analysed inductively using reflexive thematic analysis. Findings were interpreted through the TFA to examine how emotional, ethical and structural factors shaped perceptions of acceptability.
Results:
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 23 participants: 10 dental professionals, 6 dietitians and 7 caregivers. Four inductive themes captured participants reasoning: (1) Balancing enthusiasm and sensitivity; (2) Negotiating the realities of integration; (3) Clarifying boundaries and expertise and (4) Building collective confidence. These themes aligned closely with the TFA, showing how emotional, ethical and structural factors interacted. Acceptability emerged as a dynamic balance of emotional and ethical alignment, practical feasibility, conceptual clarity and shared confidence. Perceived effectiveness was a unifying thread, with integration seen as acceptable when safeguards ensured emotional safety, ethical grounding and organisational support.
Conclusion:
Integrating dietitians was viewed as widely acceptable when collaboratively, sensitively and structurally delivered and supported.
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