Determinants of Dental Referral Practices among WIC Nutritionists in North Carolina

Objectives: To examine the effects of knowledge and confidence on dental referral practices among WIC nutritionists in NorthCarolina.

Methods: A questionnaire consisting of 118 Likert scale-type questions was administered to 92% of all WIC nutritionists in NorthCarolina (n = 324). The relationship of knowledge and confidence with frequent dental referrals was tested using logistic regression.

Results: Regression results found that confidence in performing oral health risk assessments (OR = 2.12; 95% CI = 1.13, 3.96), confidence in making dental referrals (OR = 3.02; 95% CI = 1.45-6.29), and confidence in expected outcomes that parents would seek dental care when advised to do so (OR = 3.11; 95% CI = 1.62, 5.97) were associated with more frequent dental referrals.

Conclusions: The more confident WIC nutritionists feel about oral health, the more likely they are to make dental referrals. Screening and referral by WIC workers may benefit children by improving access to dental care, as the WIC clinic is frequently the first point of contact with a health professional.