CHILD CARE CENTER DIRECTORS' ORAL HEALTH LITERACY AND ATTITUDES TOWARDS PEDIATRIC ORAL HEALTH

Resnick Auditorium

Objective. This study will determine if child care center directors (CCCDs) oral health literacy, knowledge, attitudes towards pediatric oral health, and self-perceived barriers in promoting oral health in child care centers (CCCs) is associated to 1) the number of already existing oral health prevention strategies (OHPS) in CCCs, and the 2) Intent to adopt OHPS by CCCDs in their centers in the next year. Background. There is an increasing trend of child care utilization throughout the United States. Nearly 75% of children in the United States have attended some form of non-parental child care by the age of 5. OHPS or programs in CCCs are not as much prevalent as other prevention and health promotion programs. The CCCs provide an innovative, non-traditional setting for pediatric oral health promotion. However, before this setting can be used to promote oral health, a better understanding of Florida child care center directors' oral health literacy, knowledge, and attitudes on pediatric oral health is needed. Methods. A cross sectional study using a 44-item online survey will be conducted using a sample of child care center directors of licensed CCCs throughout Florida. Descriptive statistics will be analyzed and regression analyses will be conducted using SAS statistical software. Results. To be determined Conclusion. To be determined Grants. Submitted for HPD Grant