Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40606216›Full record

SynthesisFrontiers in oral health2025

Carer perspectives on overweight, obesity and dental caries in early childhood: findings from a systematic qualitative review.

Heilok Cheng, Rebecca Chen, Bradley Christian, Jessica Appleton, Amit Arora, Elizabeth Denney-Wilson

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Frontiers in oral health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing 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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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.

Heilok ChengFaculty of Medicine and Health, Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.
Rebecca ChenFaculty of Medicine and Health, Westmead Applied Research Centre, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW, Australia.
Bradley ChristianFaculty of Medicine and Health, School of Dentistry, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.
Jessica AppletonSydney Institute of Women, Children and Their Families, Sydney Local Health District, NSW Health, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.
Amit AroraSchool of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia.
Elizabeth Denney-WilsonFaculty of Medicine and Health, Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: Formula and bottle feeding behaviours can increase obesity and tooth decay (early childhood caries, ECC) in early childhood, through non-responsive feeding and prolonged exposure to sugar. Parents' beliefs can be barriers to behaviour change for obesity and ECC prevention. Understanding these beliefs towards children's teeth and weight can address parents' priorities and develop prevention messages. This qualitative systematic review (PROSPERO registration #CRD42022348783) aimed to identify parent or carer perspectives on obesity and ECC in children aged ≤6 years. Methods: Database searching of CINAHL, Medline and EMBASE, with hand searching, was undertaken. Included papers were qualitative research publications, focused on parent or carer beliefs and attitudes towards overweight, obesity or ECC in infants and children. Inductive thematic analysis was undertaken to generate themes, with a strengths-based approach focused on parents' lived experience. Quality appraisal was undertaken with the CASP Qualitative Checklist. Descriptive characteristics of the study and participants, and qualitative findings, were extracted qualitatively in NVivo. Results: 7,365 references were identified from database and hand searching, with 98 references included for analysis. Three research themes were generated: (1) parenting to support child wellness, including healthy teeth and weight; (2) parents' response to unwellness, including identifying symptoms, causes and protective factors for unhealthy weight and teeth; (3) information and resources needed to support healthy weight and teeth. There was high or potential risk of bias in qualitative methodology when studies did not address researcher-participant relationships or rigorous data analysis processes. Discussion: Findings highlight the need for strength-based messages for children's teeth and weight, increased understanding of formula and bottle feeding as obesity and ECC risk factors, and holistic approaches to care by dental and primary care professionals. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD42022348783, PROSPERO CRD42022348783.

Indexed as

child healthchild nutrition sciencesdental carieshealth knowledge, attitude and practiceobesity

Identifiers

PMID40606216
PMCPMC12213562

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.