PROMIS Project
Outreach to LA County Public School Through Surveys and Screening
Led by Section of Public and Population Health Chair Dr. Honghu Liu, the PROMIS Oral Health Toolkit-Supported School-Based Oral Health Program (PROMIS OH II) is an NIDCR/NIH-funded multi-million U01 project focusing on the oral health of school children in Los Angeles County public schools.
Guided by the framework and methodologies of national PROMIS (Patient Reported Outcome Measurement Information system) and the experience gained from the PROMIS OH I study, the PROMIS II project aims to develop oral health item banks and oral health screening toolkits to be used for oral health screening in large populations of school children across the country.
Why It Matters?
Although hundreds and thousands of dentists and oral health professionals work to address people’s dental and oral care needs, there aren't enough dental care professionals to meet the oral health needs of all population groups. To address this challenge, the PROMIS II project aims to develop oral health screening toolkits, including survey items, score calculation, clinic mapping algorithm, and dental care need classification, that can be implemented by IT software through computers and smartphone apps to triage the need of dental care so the limited dental health resources can be used towards those who need the most. Such toolkits can be used every six months or annually with low to no additional cost in large populations of school children.
Who is Involved?
Nine hundred children of different age groups from elementary, middle, and high schools in the Greater Los Angeles area and their parents/guardians will participate in this program. Each child will complete an oral health survey tailored to their age group and participate in an oral examination conducted by a clinic team led by Dr. Steve Lee, consisting of dentists, dental hygienists, trainees, and pre-dental chairside assistants. The oral health screening will identify active cavities, prior fillings, crowns, and sealants, among others, and classify children into three groups of dental care urgency: 1) see a dentist immediately, 2) in two weeks, and 3) keep regular care. Children with urgent dental care needs will be referred to appropriate services immediately, ensuring they receive dental care promptly. Parents/guardians will also complete a survey about their child’s oral health, providing additional information assisting the development of oral health toolkits.
Community Engagement and Recruitment in Schools
To mobilize the community to get involved, our team, consisting of multiple faculty members of PPH and SOD, researchers, coordinators, and analysts, has been working with LACOE (Los Angeles County Office of County, LAUSD (Los Angeles Unified School District), non-LAUSDs, school principals, nurses, administrators, parents, and volunteers. We worked closely with school coordinators and teachers to raise awareness about the program and had many on-site information sessions promoting the study. During recruitment weeks, we set up school information tables to talk directly with parents and guardians, particularly during pick-up times.
Contact Us
If you would like to learn more about the PROMIS Project, please contact:
Matt Palmer, Section Administrator
Public and Population Health
Phone: (310) 825-6406
mpalmer@dentistry.ucla.edu