The development, implementation, and evaluation of a literacy-promotion program in pediatric dental care in a rural Wisconsin federally qualified health center
Abstract
The present project details the development, implementation, and evaluation of a literacypromotion
program in pediatric dental care, for Scenic Bluffs Community Health
Centers’ main clinic in Cashton, WI. The development and implementation of the
literacy-promotion program in Scenic Bluffs’ Dental Department adapted the principles
of the highly successful Reach Out and Read program. The pilot program targeted
pediatric dental patients ages six months to five years old and took place during annual
dental hygiene appointments. Trained dental hygienists presented the pediatric patient
with an age-appropriate children’s book at each appointment, communicated the
importance of reading to both children and caregiver present, and offered in-person
anticipatory guidance to caregivers regarding the benefits of reading to their children
during the patient’s appointment. Findings from this project support the consistent
positive findings that the body of literature on literacy-promotion programs in a healthcare
setting regularly reported in the pediatric patient population. Recommendations were
drawn from the findings and conclusions of the program and suggestions were made to
utilize the quality improvement plan-do-study-act (PDSA) model as part of future
literacy-promotion programs at Scenic Bluffs Community Health Centers to ensure the
highest quality outcome is achieved.
Subject
Literacy
Health facility-based child care