ArticleBMJ open2022
HABIT: Health visitors delivering Advice in Britain on Infant Toothbrushing - an early-phase feasibility study of a complex oral health intervention.
Article in BMJ open, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.
What it found
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The trial behind it
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Who cites it
7 citing papers in PubMed, 7 citations in OpenAlex.
- Small teeth, big opportunities: strengthening oral health communication in early years settings.Archives of public health = Archives belges de sante publique · 2026Article
- Evaluating an early childhood caries prevention strategy: a study protocol for a stepped-wedge cluster randomised controlled trial.BMJ open · 2025Article
- Successful Oral Health Interventions for Children Living in Vulnerable Circumstances - A Scoping Review.International dental journal · 2025Article
- Exploring and enhancing the accessibility of children's oral health resources (called HABIT) for high risk communities.Frontiers in oral health · 2024Article
- Early Years Physical Activity and Motor Skills Intervention-A Feasibility Study to Evaluate an Existing Training Programme for Early Years Educators.Children (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Article
- Co-design of an oral health intervention (HABIT) delivered by health visitors for parents of children aged 9-12 months.BMC public health · 2022Article
- HABIT (Health visitors delivering Advice in Britain on Infant Toothbrushing): a qualitative exploration of the acceptability of a complex oral health intervention.BMC primary care · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
12 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
objectivesTo conduct an early-phase feasibility study of an oral health intervention, Health visitors delivering Advice on Britain on Infant Toothbrushing (HABIT), delivered by Health Visitors to parents of children aged 9-12 months old.
designA mixed-methods, early-phase, non-controlled, feasibility study.
participantsRecruitment consisted of Group A-HABIT-trained Health Visitors (n=11) and Group B-parents of children aged 9-12 months old about to receive their universal health check (n=35).
settingBradford, West Yorkshire, UK.
interventionA multidisciplinary team co-developed digital and paper-based training resources with health visitors and parents of young children. The intervention comprised of two components: (A) training for health visitors to deliver the HABIT intervention and (B) HABIT resources for parents, including a website, videos, toothbrushing demonstration and a paper-based leaflet with an oral health action plan. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Recruitment, retention and intervention delivery were analysed as key process outcomes for Groups A and B. Group B demographics, self-reported toothbrushing behaviours, dietary habits and three objective measures of toothbrushing including plaque scores were collected at baseline, 2 weeks and 3 months post intervention.
resultsHABIT intervention delivery was feasible. Although the intended sample size was recruited (Group A=11 and Group B=35) it was more challenging than anticipated. Retention of Group B participants to final data collection was satisfactory (n=26). Total compliance with toothbrushing guidelines at baseline was low (30%), but significantly improved and was maintained 3 months after the intervention (68%). Plaque scores improved post intervention and participants found video recording of toothbrushing acceptable. Dietary habits remained largely unchanged.
conclusionThis feasibility study has demonstrated that HABIT is an appropriate oral health intervention. Adaptions to the study design are recommended to maximise recruitment and data collection in a definitive study. These quantitative findings have demonstrated an early signal of impact for improved oral health behaviours for young children at high risk of decay. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN55332414.
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