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Evaluation of a fluoride varnish application program at a pediatric primary care office
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Camacho, Pamela A.. Evaluation of a fluoride varnish application program at a pediatric primary care office. Retrieved from https://doi.org/doi:10.7282/t3-eng3-2x97

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TitleEvaluation of a fluoride varnish application program at a pediatric primary care office
NameCamacho, Pamela A. (author); Quinn, Margaret (chair); Vitale, Tracey (internal member); Rutgers University; School of Nursing - RBHS
Date Created2021
Other Date2021-05 (degree)
SubjectFluoride varnish, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
Extent1 online resource (53 pages)
DescriptionPurpose of Project: The American Academy of Pediatrics (2014) identifies early childhood caries as the number one chronic pediatric disease. The AAP recommends applying a fluoride varnish during well-child visits at pediatric primary care offices to prevent and treat caries. However, it is estimated that only 4% of primary care offices are following this recommendation. This quality improvement project evaluated the effects of providing dental and fluoride education at a primary care pediatric site.

Methodology: At the pediatric primary care office, the study coordinator provided an educational luncheon which included: primary care providers’ role on reducing dental caries, causes and implications of pediatric dental caries and its epidemic significance, proper technique of applying fluoride varnishes via AAP video, and correct coding of the fluoride varnish treatment. Staff offered fluoride varnish treatments to eligible children during well-child visits, ages 6 months and above with primary or permanent teeth, up to and including 5-year-old children. Two retrospective chart reviews were done. First retrospective chart review of 4 weeks before the educational intervention was compared to a second retrospective chart review of 4 weeks after the educational intervention.

Results: Prior to the educational intervention, 101 well-child visits were eligible to receive the fluoride varnish application, 38 (38%) were offered the fluoride varnish and 2 (0.05%) patients accepted the fluoride varnish. After the education, 92 well-child visits were eligible for the fluoride treatment, 45 (49%) were offered the fluoride varnish and 19 (42%) patients accepted the treatment. Overall, this pediatric office increased its percentages of offering fluoride varnish application by 11% and increased applications by 20%.

Implications for Practice: The ultimate goal is to increase the amount of pediatric primary care offices that provide fluoride varnish treatments during routine well-child visits. It is recommended to improve education for parents to understand the benefits of fluoride varnish treatments by using informational handouts or pamphlets. Improving EMR documentation to automatically identify eligible patients and to include more detailed information, such as parental refusal reasons or if a child has no teeth may also help with fluoride varnish treatments. It is recommended to expand this project to other pediatric primary care offices. Emphasis should be placed on dental hygiene and fluoride varnish education to primary care providers. Lastly, this project encourages advocacy for mandated coverage from health insurance providers.
NoteDNP
NoteIncludes bibliographical references
Genretheses, ETD doctoral
Persistent URLhttps://doi.org/doi:10.7282/t3-eng3-2x97
LanguageEnglish
CollectionSchool of Nursing (RBHS) DNP Projects
Organization NameRutgers, The State University of New Jersey
RightsThe author owns the copyright to this work.
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