Promotora Model to improve oral health: an exploratory study among diverse low-income community

Abstract

The Promotora Model is an educational strategy that has been used to improve the health of underserved populations. We have implemented this exploratory model in a clinical site in Collier County, Florida. The main objective of this study was to increase parents’/guardians’ knowledge and ability to improve their children’s oral health through educational strategies delivered in both English and Spanish. Families with children age 5 years or younger, most of whom were on a waiting list for dental treatment under sedation, were recruited individually to attend the educational activities (n= 2,533). The mean number of visits to the education room was 2.21 ± 0.49. Sessions included discussion about dental caries and its etiology and transmission. Also, oral hygiene and feeding practices (e.g., use of baby bottle, frequency of tooth-brushing, and use of dental floss) were discussed with parents/guardians. Following the American Association of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) caries risk assessment guidelines, 89 % of the children were classified as high risk for dental caries. After subsequent visits to the education room, parents reported an improvement of their children’s oral hygiene practices and were more conscious about bacterial transmission and other modifiable risk factors. The implementation of the “Promotora Model” appears to be an effective educational approach to improve oral health based on cultural and behavioral patterns of the families at clinical and community settings.