Equitable Oral Health in Children – Parents’ Perspectives on Preventive Support

The preliminary aim of the project is to explore the support parents need and how preventive interventions provided by society can contribute to more equitable oral health among children. The project is being conducted in collaboration with researchers at Mid Sweden University (MIUN), the Public Health Unit at Region Jämtland Härjedalen, and the Public Dental Service. An ethics application is currently in progress, and the work is intended to be published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.

We envisage two students collaborating on the project. The study will involve interviews with approximately 16–20 parents. Parents will be invited to participate following a follow-up appointment with the Public Dental Service after their child has undergone treatment under general anaesthesia. During this appointment, they will be asked whether they are willing to be contacted by the research team at MIUN. Parents will receive both oral and written information about the study. The interviews are expected to take 30–45 minutes and will be audio-recorded, transcribed, and analysed using a qualitative analytical approach.

The study aim and a semi-structured interview guide will be developed in collaboration with the supervisors.

Students with an interest in public health science, caring science and medical sciences are welcome to express their interest in the project. The study can be conducted at some point during the period from autumn 2026 to autumn 2027.