Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39963895›Full record

ArticleCommunity dentistry and oral epidemiology2025

Why Aren't Antenatal Care Providers Adopting Oral Health Guidelines? A Qualitative Exploration.

Annika Wilson, Cailin Davies, Silvana Bettiol, Heather Bridgman, Leonard Crocombe, Ha Hoang

Abstract read
In one paragraph

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. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Annika WilsonCentre for Rural Health, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Launceston, Tasmania, Australia.ORCID 0000-0001-6633-6461
Cailin DaviesOral Health Services Tasmania, Tasmanian Department of Health, New Town, Tasmania, Australia.
Silvana BettiolTasmanian School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-4355-4498
Heather BridgmanCentre for Rural Health, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Launceston, Tasmania, Australia.
Leonard CrocombeViolet Vines Marshman Centre for Rural Health Research, La Trobe University, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia.
Ha HoangCentre for Rural Health, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Launceston, Tasmania, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThe current Australian Pregnancy Care guidelines recommend that antenatal care providers discuss oral health, provide advice and refer women to dental professionals as needed. However, the delivery of oral health recommendations in antenatal settings appears substandard. This study aimed to identify the barriers and enablers influencing antenatal care providers' adoption of the oral health guidelines.

methodsA qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of antenatal care providers in Tasmania, Australia. Data analysis followed a thematic coding method using the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation - Behaviour (COM-B) model and Theoretical Domains Framework to identify implementation barriers and enablers and to inform recommendations.

resultsTwenty-five antenatal care providers participated (midwives n = 14, general practitioners n = 10 and obstetrician-gynaecologist n = 1). Thirty-two explanatory themes were identified and mapped directly to six COM-B constructs and 11 Theoretical Domains Framework domains. Eight main themes were identified as both impeding and enabling when viewed in different contexts: (1) perceived patient knowledge and awareness; (2) professional oral health knowledge, training and skills; (3) awareness of the guidelines on oral health; (4) patient education and professional resources; (5) interprofessional collaboration and support; (6) streamlined referral processes and access to dental services; (7) perceived outcomes of oral health interventions; and (8) perceived professional responsibility related to oral health.

conclusionsKey strategies include improvements to the promotion and dissemination of relevant guidelines, professional education and training, and development and adoption of oral health-centred models of care to support interprofessional collaboration. Future research should focus on developing brief and sustainable interventions that address antenatal care providers' practice behaviours.

Indexed as

Attitude of Health PersonnelGuideline AdherenceOral HealthPractice Guidelines as TopicPrenatal CareAdultFemaleHumansInterviews as TopicMalePregnancyQualitative ResearchTasmaniaoral healthprenatal careprofessional practice gapsqualitative research

Identifiers

PMID39963895
PMCPMC12064867

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.