Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39936245›Full record

ArticleCommunity dentistry and oral epidemiology2025

Developing a Prototype Home-Based Toothbrushing Support Tool for Families in Scotland: A Mixed-Methods Study With Modified Delphi Survey and Semi-Structured Interviews.

Emma Fletcher, Andrea Sherriff, Denise Duijster, Maddelon de Jong-Lenters, Al Ross

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Article in Community dentistry and oral epidemiology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Emma FletcherCommunity Oral Health Group, University of Glasgow Dental School, School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
Andrea SherriffCommunity Oral Health Group, University of Glasgow Dental School, School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
Denise DuijsterDepartment of Oral Public Health, Academic Center for Dentistry Amsterdam, University of Amsterdam and VU University, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0002-4503-8403
Maddelon de Jong-LentersDepartment of Pediatric Dentistry, Academic Center for Dentistry Amsterdam, University of Amsterdam and VU University, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Al RossSchool of Health, Science and Wellbeing, Staffordshire University, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, UK.

Funding

Wellcome Trust 098461
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundScotland's National Oral Health Programme for Children, Childsmile, provides targeted home toothbrushing support for families of young children (0-3 years) in the home setting. The study describes the adaptation of an existing dental practice-based intervention from the Netherlands using pictorial cards (Uitblinkers) for use in the programme. The aims were to modify Uitblinkers for the setting and context in Scotland by: (1) identifying the barriers that parents/carers in need of extra support face in implementing supervised toothbrushing; (2) explore consensus about behaviour change techniques that are appropriate and valid to address these; and (3) making recommendations for the design of a co-produced home-support tool and identifying facilitators for implementation in practice.

methodsA modified Delphi study was carried out consisting of two survey rounds with a purposively recruited expert panel (n = 21) to develop consensus on home toothbrushing barriers (aim 1), behaviour change techniques (aim 2) and considerations for implementation (aim 3). Proposition statements for the Delphi were derived from literature, discussions with project advisors and from Uitblinkers, an existing behaviour change intervention for parents developed by the Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA) and delivered in dental practice. Then 12 in-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with Dental Health Support Workers in Scotland (delivering the home support toothbrushing intervention) to gather the views on the proposed toothbrushing barriers, behaviour change techniques and considerations for implementation (aim 1 to 3). Delphi results are presented descriptively in terms of percentage agreement and priority ratings. Interview transcripts were analysed using Template Analysis.

resultsFrom the Delphi study, a final set of 11 overlapping child, parent and environmental/social toothbrushing barriers was agreed upon (aim 1), to be addressed through a tool based on applied Motivational Interviewing, and a combination of Operant Conditioning, Stimulus Control and Goal-Setting techniques (aim 2). Experts supported the tool as realistic for delivery in the home setting, provided staff were trained. A physical 'paper' tool was preferred to a proposed electronic version (aim 3). Themes from interviews were: (1) the barriers present an exhaustive set and are valid from staff experience with families; (2) Motivational interviewing is appropriate and fits with usual practice; (3) the included behaviour change techniques are workable; (4) the tool is generally feasible within the operation of Childsmile home visits; (5) the tool is not less applicable for children with additional support needs.

conclusionsA card-based conversational intervention to provide targeted home toothbrushing support for families of young children (0-3 years) in the home setting in Scotland, drawing from a template from the Netherlands, has been deemed worthy of further testing based on expert consensus and staff views on barriers faced, appropriate behaviour change techniques to address these and the design of a physical tool.

Indexed as

Home Care ServicesNational Health ProgramsOral HealthPatient Acceptance of Health CareToothbrushingAdultChild, PreschoolDelphi TechniqueFemaleHealth Plan ImplementationHumansInfantInfant, NewbornInterviews as TopicMaleNetherlandschild oral healthqualitative researchsupervised toothbrushing

Identifiers

PMID39936245
PMCPMC12064878

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