A pilot improvement project in hospital-based oral healthcare: improving caries risk assessment documentation

Keightley, A.J., Lucey, S.M., Leitch, J., Lloyd, R.C. and Campbell, C. (2012) A pilot improvement project in hospital-based oral healthcare: improving caries risk assessment documentation. British Dental Journal, 212(2), E3-1. (doi: 10.1038/sj.bdj.2012.49)

Abstract

<b>Objective</b> To evaluate the impact of a continuous improvement project to improve completion of a caries risk assessment (CRA) and to assess its impact on delivery of dental caries prevention.<p></p> <b>Design</b> Single centre clinical improvement project.<p></p> <b>Setting</b> A paediatric dental department within a UK dental hospital over the course of 2008-2009.<p></p> <b>Subjects (materials)</b> and methods Continuous monitoring of documentation of a CRA was instigated and results fed back to clinicians. Tools were developed to structure the process of CRA. After six months of intervention, a comparison of preventive care to a pre-intervention sample was undertaken.<p></p> <b>Main outcome measures</b> The main outcome measure was completion of a CRA. Comparison was also made with pre-intervention data on levels of preventive care received.<p></p> <b>Results</b> Over the 12 month project the mean rate of CRA completion improved from 30% over the first 6 months to 73% in the second 6 months. Compared to the pre-intervention sample, all items of the caries prevention package had improved, with delivery of toothpaste strength advice (16% vs 60%, p = 0.001) and diet advice (32% vs 70%, p = 0.004) improving significantly.<p></p> <b>Conclusion</b> By targeting and improving CRA completion the quality of preventive care delivered has also significantly improved.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Campbell, Mrs Caroline
• Authors: Keightley, A.J., Lucey, S.M., Leitch, J., Lloyd, R.C., and Campbell, C.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing > Dental School
• Journal Name: British Dental Journal
• Journal Abbr.: BDJ
• ISSN: 0007-0610
• ISSN (Online): 1476-5373
• Published Online: 27 January 2012