Children with special health care needs: exploring the relationships between patients' level of functioning, their oral health, and caregivers' oral health-related responses

dc.contributor.authorPetrova, E.
dc.contributor.authorHyman, M.
dc.contributor.authorEstrella, M.
dc.contributor.authorInglehart, M.
dc.date.issued2014
dc.description.abstractPURPOSE: The purposes of this study were to increase dentists' understanding of how to best engage parents and their children with special health care needs (SHCN) in oral health promotion efforts and explore the relationships between these patients' level of functioning and oral health and their parents' comfort concerning oral health promotion. METHODS: Survey data were collected from 154 caregivers of SHCN children. Children's oral health data were obtained from their clinical charts. RESULTS: The patients' level of functioning ranged from the lowest to the highest regarding their ability to listen/understand, talk, relate to others, care for themselves, play with others, and participate in physical activities. Children's gingival health was correlated with their ability to talk (r=-.12; P<.05). Their oral hygiene score correlated with their ability to talk (r=.18; P<.05) and their skills in social play interactions (r=.21; P<.05). The parents' comfort level concerning oral health promotion correlated positively with their child's level of functioning. Parents' interest in receiving oral health instruction correlated positively with their child's level of functioning. CONCLUSIONS: Understanding patient's level of functioning might predict the degree to which parents actually engage in oral health promotion efforts and are interested in oral health-related education.
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityElena G. Petrova, Michael Hyman, Maria Regina Padilla Estrella, Marita R. Inglehart
dc.identifier.citationPEDIATRIC DENTISTRY, 2014; 36(3):233-239
dc.identifier.issn0164-1263
dc.identifier.issn1942-5473
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2440/95672
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherAmerican Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
dc.rightsCopyright status unknown
dc.source.urihttp://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ddh&AN=96386451&site=ehost-live&scope=site
dc.subjectChildren with disabilities
dc.subjectOral health
dc.subjectHealth Education
dc.subjectParents
dc.subjectChildren with special health care needs
dc.titleChildren with special health care needs: exploring the relationships between patients' level of functioning, their oral health, and caregivers' oral health-related responses
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished

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