Development and Evaluation of a Medical Intervention for Early Childhood Caries (IMB-RCT)

University of North Carolina (UNC)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Early Childhood Dental Caries

Treatments: Behavioral: Continuing medical education

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00464009

11-P-91251/4-02

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of three forms of continuing medical education (CME) on provision of preventive dental services to Medicaid-enrolled children by medical personnel in primary care physician offices.

Full description

Practice-based, randomized controlled trial. Setting: 1,400 pediatric and family physician practices in North Carolina providing care to an estimated 240,000 Medicaid-eligible children aged 0-3 years. Interventions: Group A practices (n=39) received didactic training and course materials in oral health screening, referral, counseling and application of fluoride varnish. Group B practices (n=41) received the same as Group A and were offered weekly conference calls providing advice and support. Group C practices (n=41) received the same as Group B and were offered in-office visit providing hands-on advice and support. Outcome measures were computed from reimbursement claims submitted to NC Division of Medical Assistance. Primary outcome measure: rate of preventive dental services provision per 100 well-child visits. Secondary outcome measure: % of practices providing 20 or more preventive dental visits.

Enrollment: 120 patients

Sex: All

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• pediatric or family physician Medicaid practice in North Carolina

Exclusion criteria

• participation in related pilot study

Trial design

Primary purpose: Health Services Research

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Factorial Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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120 participants in 3 patient groups

A

Active Comparator group

Description:

Group A practices (n=39) received didactic training and course materials in oral health screening, referral, counseling and application of fluoride varnish.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Continuing medical education

B

Active Comparator group

Description:

Group B practices (n=41) received the same as Group A and were offered weekly conference calls providing advice and support.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Continuing medical education

C

Active Comparator group

Description:

Group C practices (n=41) received the same as Group B and were also offered in-office follow-up visits providing hands-on advice and support.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Continuing medical education