Exploring parents' and teachers' perceptions of promoting oral health in children

Objectives: The study aimed to explore the perceptions of teachers and parents of infant school children in primary schools positioned and servicing affluent and deprived populations as intermediate and end users of oral health promotion services in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales. Method: Two primary schools within the Vale of Glamorgan were selected each representing different geographical locations within the area as well as different socio-economic profiles. A focus group of parents (n=8 school 1); an individual face-to-face interview with one parent (school 2) and individual face-to-face interviews with both headteachers and one reception teacher from each school. A 12-item interview schedule was devised in which face and content validity was established. A thematic analysis using Nvivo was then undertaken in which themes and sub-themes were identified. Results: Seven themes emerged from the analysis of the data. These included: ‘responsibility’, ‘the dentist’, ‘the role of the health visitor and school...