The project involved interprofessional training through use of video learning modules to occupational therapy (OT) students and community health workers (CHW) to support oral health outcomes for young children and their families. The OT students and CHW rated their knowledge of oral health and team member roles and perceptions of the roles of interprofessional team members working with children and families on oral health prevention and management prior to the onset of the project and at project completion. Preliminary outcomes suggest that even short synchronous collaborative interprofessional sessions can change knowledge and perceptions of team member roles. Additional measures demonstrated the effectiveness of short video learning modules to increase knowledge and skills of allied health professionals in the area of oral health. In addition, the OT students and CHWs collaborated with preschool settings to develop child and caregiver education related to oral health. The preschool partners serve children from low socioeconomic populations who are at high risk for unmet dental needs and high levels of dental caries (Gold & Tomar, 2018). The use of school-based programs has been found to be a beneficial method of improving oral health outcomes for children (Alsumait et al., 2019; Haleem, Khan, Sufia, Chaudhry, Siddiqui, & Khan, 2016). In addition, an interprofessional approach has been shown to be beneficial for meeting the needs of underserved populations (Collins, 2016; Gold & Tomar, 2018; Kaur, 2019). The project team collaborated to develop evidence based practices including health literacy, caregiver education, and motivational interviewing. Educational materials and oral health supplies were mailed to families of children in high risk categories. Preliminary findings from caregiver responses will be shared as an outcome related to changes in knowledge and oral health behaviors.
This project was funded by a grant from the Delta Dental Foundation of Minnesota and conducted in collaboration with St. Catherine University Faculty and Students and Ready, Set, Smile.
Disclosures:
In accordance with the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education’s Standards for Commercial Support, adopted by the Joint Accreditors for Interprofessional Continuing Education, the National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education has a conflict of interest policy that requires that all individuals involved in the development of activity content disclose their relevant financial relationships with commercial interests. All potential conflicts of interest that arise based upon these financial relationships are resolved prior to the educational activity.
Adelita Cantu, Rebekah Salt, Sadie Trammell Velasquez, David Ojeda Diaz, Diane Ferguson, Debbie Chang, Jeff Jackson, Cristina Grijalva, Stephanie de Sam Lazaro, Adele Della Torre, Jayne-Marie Raponi, Amy Blue, Kiran Lukose, Kelly Lockeman, Tina Gunaldo, Sharon Lanning, Michelle McGregor, Jessica Owens
declare no vested interest in or affiliation with any commercial interest offering financial support for this interprofessional continuing education activity, or any affiliation with a commercial interest whose philosophy could potentially bias their presentation.
