Frontiers in dental medicine
A "family-school-hospital" collaborative oral health management model for preschool children: a prospective single-arm pre-post intervention study
By Zhang Y, Li Y, Liu Y and 3 others.
Abstract
Background
Early childhood caries (ECC) remains a global public health challenge, yet preschool children lack autonomy in health management and depend heavily on family and school environments. Population-based oral health management models have proven effective in other fields but are rarely implemented in Chinese preschool settings. This study aimed to establish and evaluate a "family-school-hospital" collaborative oral health management model for preschool children in Chengdu, China.
Methods
The oral health management model for preschool children was established through population screening, baseline surveys, personalized oral health guidance, provision of diagnostic and treatment pathways, and the use of health behavior formation tools. The preliminary effects of promoting active health behavior formation were observed through oral health follow-up examinations and oral health-related questionnaire surveys conducted at 1-, 3-, and 6-month follow-ups.