The reliability and validity of the RAPIDD scale: Readiness assessment of parents concerning infant dental decay

This study assessed the instrument. Readiness Assessment of parents concern ing Infant Dental Decay (RAPIDD), as a measure of parental readiness to cha nge children's dental behaviors. The 38-item instrument based on four const ructs (Openness to Health Information, Valuing Dental Health, Convenience/D ifficulty, Child Permissiveness) was administered to a random sample of par ents of 6-to-36 month old children on Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, USA. Alpha values for each construct's internal consistenc y ranged from 0.51 to 0.75. Correlations were found with feeding (e.g., Con venience/Difficulty and receiving bottle (r=.24, p <0.01)) and oral hygiene (e.g., Valuing Dental Health and tooth-cleaning (r=.27, p <0.01)). Parenta l responses were used to categorize respondents into precontemplators (16 p ercent), contemplators (77 percent), and actions (6.7 percent). This catego rization was associated with the number of decalcified and decayed surfaces (alpha2=34.8, p=0.04; alpha2=65.7, p <0.01). This suggests that parental r eadiness is associated with infant dental health and that most parents woul d be willing to contemplate prevention.