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Objectives To develop an assessment tool for evaluating oral health promotion practices and to evaluate community-based oral health promotion practices targeted at children and adolescents with this tool. Methods A theoretical framework about health promotion planning, implementation and evaluation was made on the basis of a literature review. Then, information about Finnish community-based oral health promotion practices ( n = 12) targeted at children and adolescents was collected using semi-structured interviews. Also, related documents, for example action plans and reports, were collected when available. Next, an assessment tool based on the theoretical framework was developed, and the recorded and transcribed interview data and other documents were evaluated with this tool. Results The assessment tool proved to be practical: it pointed out the strengths and weaknesses of the practices. The tool revealed strengths in the implementation and deficiencies in the planning and evaluation of oral health promotion practices. One-quarter of the 12 practices assessed could be considered 'good practices'. Conclusions There is a need to improve the planning and evaluation of oral health promotion practices. The assessment tool developed in this study might be useful for practitioners both in the field of oral health promotion and general health promotion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: This paper is the second in a series of two that presents and discusses an exploratory evaluation study of the ‘Motor Magic’ program conducted in Adelaide, South Australia. Methods: A realist evaluation approach was used, and two focus groups (one with parents and one with kindergarten staff) were held to identify program outcomes and to develop and refine key hypotheses about how these outcomes occurred. Results and Conclusions: Results for kindergarten staff involved in the program are presented and discussed in this paper, including improved early identification and early intervention for children with, or at risk of, fine motor developmental difficulties; increased confidence in the effectiveness of their practice with these children; improved practice of kindergarten staff with both targeted and all children; improved empathy with, and support for, parents; and increased interagency links and ongoing advocacy for further resources. These results suggest that the program provides an effective model for building the capacity of kindergarten staff to support children with, or at risk of, developmental difficulties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: There is a lack of literature on the evaluation of programmes addressing the motor and sensory development of preschool children. This paper presents and discusses an exploratory evaluation study of the ‘Motor Magic’ programme run in Adelaide, South Australia. The purpose of this study was to identify outcomes for children, parents and kindergarten staff, as well as develop hypotheses about how these outcomes occurred and in what contexts. Methods: Using a realist approach, two focus groups were conducted, one with parents and one with kindergarten staff, to develop and refine key hypotheses. Results and Conclusion: Evaluation results for participating children and parents suggested that this programme provided a model of best practice for supporting the development of preschool-aged children, with or at risk of, developmental delay, within their family and social environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In previous hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment studies, Black patients not only had a lower sustained viral response (SVR) rate to interferon and ribavirin (RBV) than non-Black patients but also a higher frequency of HCV genotype 1 (GT-1) infection. The aim of this community-based study was to determine whether Black patients have a lower SVR rate independent of genotype. We prospectively enrolled 785 patients (24.8% Black, 71.5% White, 3.7% others) who received interferon alpha-2b 3 MU three times weekly + RBV 1000–1200 mg/day for 24 weeks (GT-2/3) or 48 weeks (GT-1). Black patients were more commonly infected with GT-1 (86.8% vs 64.8%, P < 0.001) and less frequently had an SVR compared with non-Black patients (8.4% vs 21.6%, P < 0.001). Within GT-1, Black patients had a lower SVR rate than non-Black patients (6.1% vs 14.1%, P = 0.004) but not within GT-2/3 (50.0% vs 36.5%, P = 0.47). Black patients had lower baseline haemoglobin levels (14.8 vs 15.3 g/dL, P < 0.001) and neutrophil counts (2900 vs 4100/mm3, P < 0.001) and required more frequent dose reductions of RBV (29.8% vs 18.5%, P < 0.001) and interferon (4.7% vs 1.6%, P = 0.012). However, dose reductions were not associated with lower SVR rates while early treatment discontinuations were (2.9% vs 25.7%, P < 0.001). Independent predictors of SVR were GT-1 [odds ratio (OR) 0.33; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.20–0.55; P < 0.001], Black race (OR 0.45; 95% CI 0.22–0.93; P = 0.030), and advanced fibrosis, stages 3 + 4 (OR 0.53; 95% CI 0.31–0.92; P = 0.023). In conclusion, Black patients infected with HCV GT-1 (but not GT-2/3) have a lower SVR rate than non-Black patients. This is not explained by their lower baseline haemoglobin levels and neutrophil counts that lead to higher rates of ribavirin and interferon dose reductions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]