A Randomized Clinical Trial Preventive Outreach Targeting Dental Caries and Oral-Health-Related Quality of Life for Refugee Children

Murad Alrashdi, Maria Jose Cervantes Mendez and Moshtagh R. Farokhi
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Murad Alrashdi: Department of Orthodontic and Paediatric Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Qassim University, KSA, Qassim 51452, Saudi Arabia
Maria Jose Cervantes Mendez: Department of Developmental Dentistry, School of Dentistry at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
Moshtagh R. Farokhi: Department of Comprehensive Dentistry, School of Dentistry at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 4, 1-10

Abstract: Objective: The study assessed a preventive outreach educational intervention targeting improvements in dental caries and oral-health-related quality of life in the children of refugee families by comparing pre- and postintervention outcomes. Methods: This randomized controlled clinical trial assessed the outcomes at baseline and three times over six months using the WHO oral health assessment form (DMFT/dmft) and the parent version of the Michigan Oral-Health-Related Quality of Life scale. Children and at least one of their parents/caretakers were educated on oral health topics in two one-hour sessions. Results: Of the 66 enrolled families, 52 (72%) completed the six-month follow-up. DMFT/dmft scores increased significantly in both the control and intervention groups ( p < 0.05); differences in the changes in the DMFT/dmft and MOHRQoL-P scores from baseline to the three- and six-month follow-up visits between groups were not significant ( p > 0.05). Conclusions: Oral health education programs targeting a diverse group of refugee children and their parents/caregivers single-handedly did not reduce the increased number of caries lesions or improve oral-health-related quality of life.

Keywords: refugees; immigrants; quality of life; children’s oral health; DMFT/dmft; dental caries (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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