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.