Association of Parental Oral Health Knowledge and Self-Efficacy with Early Childhood Caries and Oral Health Quality of Life in Texas Schoolchildren

Shreela V. Sharma (), Jeanette E. Deason, Mengxi Wang, Alejandra Garcia-Quintana, Ru-Jye Chuang, Kila Johnson, Shalisa Garner, Steven Kelder and Jose-Miguel Yamal
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Shreela V. Sharma: Center for Health Equity, Department of Epidemiology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth Houston) School of Public Health, Houston, TX 77030, USA
Jeanette E. Deason: Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, Coordinating Center for Clinical Trials, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth Houston) School of Public Health, Houston, TX 77030, USA
Mengxi Wang: Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, Coordinating Center for Clinical Trials, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth Houston) School of Public Health, Houston, TX 77030, USA
Alejandra Garcia-Quintana: Center for Health Equity, Department of Epidemiology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth Houston) School of Public Health, Houston, TX 77030, USA
Ru-Jye Chuang: Center for Health Equity, Department of Health Promotion & Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth Houston) School of Public Health, Houston, TX 77030, USA
Kila Johnson: Community Health and Wellness Division, Dental Health and Prevention, Harris County Public Health, Houston, TX 77027, USA
Shalisa Garner: Community Health and Wellness Division, Dental Health and Prevention, Harris County Public Health, Houston, TX 77027, USA
Steven Kelder: Department of Health Promotion & Behavioral Sciences, Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Austin (UTHealth Houston) School of Public Health, Houston, TX 78701, USA
Jose-Miguel Yamal: Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, Coordinating Center for Clinical Trials, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth Houston) School of Public Health, Houston, TX 77030, USA

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 4, 1-13

Abstract: Improving children’s oral health is a national priority. Parental knowledge and self-efficacy influence children’s health behaviors; however, the relationship between parental oral health-related knowledge, self-efficacy, child oral health-related quality of life (OHQoL), and dental caries remains unclear, especially among low-income, ethnically diverse U.S. families. This study assesses the relationship between parental oral health-related knowledge, self-efficacy, child dental caries, and OHQoL. This cross-sectional seco ndary analysis uses baseline data from a school-based cluster-randomized controlled trial among children (kindergarten–second grade). Dental assessments were conducted using the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS) on site in schools at baseline (n = 34 schools, n = 1084 consenting parent–child dyads). Child OHQoL, parental knowledge, and self-efficacy were measured using validated self-report surveys. Associations between exposures and outcomes (child dental caries prevalence, child OHQoL) were evaluated by univariate and multivariable logistic and linear regressions, respectively. After adjusting for covariates, higher parental self-efficacy was associated with lower child OHQoL (lower score indicates higher quality of life) [beta = −0.16, 95% CI: −0.24, −0.09, p < 0.01] and lower odds of active dental caries [Adj OR: 0.95, 95% CI: 0.9, 0.99, p = 0.02]. No significant associations were noted for parental knowledge. These findings can inform future research, understanding how parental psychosocial factors influence dental caries prevention behaviors and risk, and inform interventions for children.

Keywords: oral health knowledge; oral health self-efficacy; child dental caries; oral health; oral health-related quality of life (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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