Knowledge and reported behaviour concerning the prevention of caries children: a questionnaire survey of Japanese parents resident in London, UK

The objective of this study was to assess the knowledge and self-reported b ehaviours of a sample of Japanese parents resident in London, UK with respe ct to the prevention of caries in their children. Japanese parents were ask ed to complete a structured questionnaire which was distributed through the school authorities to seventeen primary schools. Data was collected on: so cio-demographics, dental service use in their children, knowledge and repor ted behaviours with respect to the prevention of dental caries in their chi ldren. After one reminder the questionnaire response rate was 69 per cent ( n=111). The mean age of the children was 6.75 years (range 3-12 years) and 73 per cent had been born in Japan. Those respondents with children born in the UK were more likely to take their children to the dentist regularly an d more likely to correctly identify the cause and prevention of dental cari es. Whilst a majority of respondents reported that their children brushed t heir teeth twice daily, toothpaste was not used by one quarter of the child ren. Barriers to dental attendance were identified. Whilst there were some similarities in levels of knowledge and reported behaviours, the parents of Japanese born children were disadvantaged with respect to knowledge about the causes and prevention of dental caries and the use of UK primary dental care services. These parents should be offered information about these iss ues.