Modelling the impact of process variables in community fluoridated milk schemes on a population of UK schoolchildren.
Br Dent J, 2011/5/28;210(10):E17.
Foster GR[1], Downer MC, Tickle M
Affiliations
PMID: 21617649DOI: 10.1038/sj.bdj.2011.388
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Abstract
background: Dental caries is a public health problem. Fluoridated milk (FM) schemes are used as a preventive measure. The impact of process variables in these schemes is not understood.
methods: Process variable data on the number of days of consumption, attendance, volume consumed, parental consent together with the proportion of children drinking FM at 7- and 11-years old were aggregated from eight schemes in the UK. The impact of process variables was modelled in an 'averaged' scheme (reduced in effectiveness by process variables) and compared with a notional 'ideal' one in which no process variables operate. Parental consent was analysed according to socio-economic groupings.
results: Proportion of days per year FM was consumed: 0.52. Values for process variables were: attendance rate 0.94; proportion of milk consumed 0.91; proportion of children with parental consent at 5 years 0.65; proportion drinking FM at 7 and 11 years respectively 0.54 and 0.27. No clear trends were observed for parental consent across socio-economic groupings.
conclusion: Modelling suggests that due to the cumulative impact of process variables, there is cause for concern about the effectiveness of FM schemes as currently managed in the UK as a standalone public health measure for the prevention of caries.
MeSH terms
Animals; Cariostatic Agents; Child; Child, Preschool; Dental Caries; Fluoridation; Fluorides; Humans; Milk; Models, Statistical; Process Assessment, Health Care; Program Evaluation; Public Health Dentistry
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