The Indigenous Adolescent Oral Health Partnership Study: A Co-Design Study Protocol

Zac Calvin; John Skinner; Yvonne Dimitropoulos; Gabriela Stan; Julie Satur; Susan Cartwright; Richard P Widmer; Tiarnee Schafer; Rachel Williams; Woosung Sohn; Sarah Raphael; Bradley Christian; Carmen Parter; Lauren Blatchford; Boe Rambaldini; Stephanie R Partridge; Elyse Cain; Kylie Gwynne

doi:10.3390/ijerph19159104

The Indigenous Adolescent Oral Health Partnership Study: A Co-Design Study Protocol

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Jul 26;19(15):9104. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19159104.

Authors

Zac Calvin¹, John Skinner^{2

3}, Yvonne Dimitropoulos^{2

4}, Gabriela Stan⁵, Julie Satur⁶, Susan Cartwright⁷, Richard P Widmer⁸, Tiarnee Schafer⁹, Rachel Williams¹⁰, Woosung Sohn¹¹, Sarah Raphael¹², Bradley Christian¹³, Carmen Parter¹⁴, Lauren Blatchford¹⁵, Boe Rambaldini³, Stephanie R Partridge¹⁶, Elyse Cain¹⁷, Kylie Gwynne³

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney School of Medicine, Anderson Stuart Building, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
² Poche Centre for Indigenous Health, Room 224 Edward Ford Building, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
³ Centre for Global Indigenous Futures, Macquarie University, 3/75 Talavera Road, Macquarie Park, NSW 2113, Australia.
⁴ Department of Linguistics, Macquarie University, 16 University Avenue, Macquarie Park, NSW 2113, Australia.
⁵ Kingswood TAFE, 12-44 O'Connell Street, Kingswood, NSW 2747, Australia.
⁶ Melbourne Dental School, Level 5, 720 Swanston Street, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia.
⁷ Colgate-Palmolive Company, Level 14, 345 George Street, Sydney, NSW 2001, Australia.
⁸ Paediatric Dentistry, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Corner of Hawkesbury Road and Hainsworth Street, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia.
⁹ Black Dog Institute, Hospital Road, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia.
¹⁰ Armajun Aboriginal Health Service, 1 Rivers Street, Inverell, NSW 2360, Australia.
¹¹ Sydney Dental School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Darcy Road, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia.
¹² Australian Dental Association NSW Branch, L1 1 Atchison Street, St Leonards, NSW 2065, Australia.
¹³ Western NSW Local Health District, Poplars Building, Bloomfield Campus, Forest Road, Orange, NSW 2800, Australia.
¹⁴ Poche Centre for Indigenous Health, 31 Upland Road, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4067, Australia.
¹⁵ Albury Wodonga Aboriginal Health Service, 664 Daniel St, Glenroy, NSW 2640, Australia.
¹⁶ Engagement and Co-Design Hub, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Level 6, Block K, The University of Sydney at Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia.
¹⁷ NSW Council of Social Service, Level 3, 52-58 William St, Woolloomooloo, NSW 2011, Australia.

Abstract

Background: in this protocol we outline a method of working alongside Aboriginal communities to learn about and facilitate improvement in the oral health habits in Aboriginal adolescents. By facilitating positive oral health in Aboriginal adolescents, we hope to achieve lifelong improvement in oral health and general wellbeing.

Methods: this paper outlines a co-design methodology through which researchers and Aboriginal communities will work together to create a custom oral healthcare program aimed at Aboriginal adolescents. Researchers, a youth advisory group, Aboriginal community-controlled health services and three regional NSW communities will together devise an oral health strategy focused on five components: application of topical fluoride, increasing water consumption, improving nutrition, daily toothbrushing, and enhancing social and emotional wellbeing. Capacity building is a key outcome of this program.

Discussion: as the gap in health status between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people remains wide, it is clear that new approaches and attitudes are needed in Aboriginal public health research. This protocol is representative of this shifting approach; giving power to Aboriginal communities who seek to have sovereignty and self-determination over their healthcare.

Trial registration: TRN: ISRCTN15496753 Date of registration: 20 October 2021.

Keywords: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander; Australian; adolescent; co-design; oral health.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Capacity Building
Community Health Services
Delivery of Health Care
Health Services, Indigenous*
Humans
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander*
Oral Health

Grants and funding

The authors would like to acknowledge funding from Colgate-Palmolive Company which was used to support the development of this study protocol.