Impact evaluation of a school-based oral health program: Kuwait National Program.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the relationship between enrolment in a school-based oral health prevention program (SOHP) and: 1) children's dental health status and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL), and 2) mothers' oral health (OH) knowledge, attitude, practice, and OHRQoL. METHODS: This cross-sectional study, in the Kuwait Capital, included 440 primary school children aged 11 to 12 years and their mothers. Participants were classified into two groups: SOHP and non-SOHP. The SOHP group had been enrolled in the prevention program for at least 3 years: children had twice-a-year applications of fluoride varnish and fissure sealants if needed; mothers had, at least, one oral health education session. The non-SOHP group had negative consents and had not been exposed to the prevention program activities. Dental examinations were performed at schools using portable dental units. Caries experience was determined using the decayed (D/d), missing (M/m), and filled (F/f) teeth (T/t)/surface (S/s) indices. Children's OHRQoL was assessed using a self-administered validated Child Perceptions Questionnaire 11-14 (CPQ11-14). Mothers' OH knowledge, attitude, practice, and OHRQoL were also assessed. After Bonferroni correction, a p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant for caries experience measures while a p-value of less than 0.013 was considered statistically significant for OHRQoL subscales and mothers' OH knowledge, attitude, practice, and OHRQoL. RESULTS: Mean (SD) DT/dt, DMFT/dmft and DMFS/dmfs were 1.41 (1.66), 2.35 (2.33), and 4.41 (5.86) for SOHP children, respectively. For non-SOHP children, the means were 2.61 (2.63), 3.56 (3.05), and 7.24 (7.78), respectively. The difference between the SOHP and non-SOHP was statistically significant (p <  0.001). Children enrolled in the program had a higher number of sealed and restored teeth. No significant differences were found in CPQ11-14 scores or subscale scores between the two groups. No significant difference in mothers' OH knowledge, attitude, practices or OHRQoL was found between SOHP and non-SOHP groups (P > 0.013). CONCLUSION: Enrolment in the SOHP prevention services was associated with a positive impact on children's caries level with no significant impact on mothers' knowledge, attitude, practice, or OHRQoL.

Exploring contexts for using digital food retail services in Canada: A qualitative study.

This study aimed to understand contexts for buying food online with food delivery apps, meal kits, and online grocers in Canada. A total of 34 participants (24% identified as men) between the ages of 16 and 60 were interviewed over the phone. The participants were recruited through personal and professional networks, electronic word of mouth, and paid social media ads. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematic analysis was used to generate major themes: convenience, food literacy, and cost-effectiveness. Convenience was multifaceted, including protecting time, minimizing food preparation effort, and facilitating food access (without a vehicle, during illness and isolation, during bad weather, with mobility challenges, or while consuming drugs or alcohol). It was found that regardless of age, gender, or lifestyle, the contexts for using digital food retail services were similar. These services made food acquisition and preparation easier; however, the benefits may be at the detriment to food literacy. The added value that digital food retail services provided made up for any additional costs. This study highlighted the need for public health practitioners to consider different facets of convenience and the added value that digital food retail services offer when making healthy food shopping and preparation recommendations. Additionally, further investigation into the impacts of digital food retail on food literacy is warranted. Results from this study will be integrated into a larger survey exploring the relationship between online food purchasing behaviors and diet quality among Canadians.